THE   LIFE  AND   TIMES 

OF 

THOMAS  JOHN   CLAGGETT 


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THE  LIFE  AND  TIMES 

OF 

THOMAS  JOHN  CLAGGETT 

FIRST  BISHOP  OF  MARYLAND   AND  THE 
FIRST  BISHOP  CONSECRATED  IN  AMERICA 

BY 


GEORGE  B.  UTLEY 

II 


R.  R.  DONNELLEY  &  SONS  CO. 

CHICAGO 

1913 


copthight,  1913 

By  Geobqb  B.  Utlet 

CmcAGO 


5  *>  1   *«  ^  /     *   •!  *   •         «     • » 

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CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

I.  Ancestry  and  Early  Life 1 

II.  Southern  Maryland  in  Colonial  Days     ,  11 

III.  Experiences  in  Country  Parishes   ...  25 

IV.  Organization  of  the  Maryland  Church    .  38 
V.  Election  to  the  Episcopate 57 

VI.    A  New  Vestry  Act 76 

VII.     The  Plan  of  Visiting  Members  ....     83 
VIII.     Contemporary   Views   of   Maryland    Par- 
ishes   94 

IX.    The  Bishop  at  Work 114 

X.    The  Convention  of  1808  and  the  War  of 

1812 127 

XI.    Election  of  a  Suffragan 144 

XII.    Closing  Years 162 

Index 181 


271297 


PREFACE 

No  apology  is  necessary  perhaps  for  attempting  this  brief 
sketch  of  the  life  and  times  of  the  first  bishop  consecrated  in 
the  New  World.  The  events  in  Bishop  Claggett's  life  were 
not  extraordinary  nor  did  they  effect  any  very  marked  in- 
fluence upon  the  later  history  of  the  Church  which  he  served 
for  so  many  years.  But  the  pictures,  although  fragmentary 
and  ill-connected,  which  we  find  in  his  letters  and  journals  of 
contemporary  life  and  thought  in  Maryland  a  century  and  a 
quarter  ago,  are,  we  believe,  of  sufficient  interest  to  be  worth 
preserving. 

As  librarian  of  the  Maryland  Diocesan  Library,  at  Balti- 
more, some  years  since,  the  author  had  ready  access  to  the 
original  sources  in  the  way  of  letters,  diaries  and  journals 
which  are  preserved  in  the  archives  of  that  institution  and 
which  he  has  freely  drawn  from  in  the  preparation  of  this 
work.  Stress  of  other  duties  has,  however,  delayed  for  several 
years  the  recasting  of  this  gathered  material  into  its  present 
form.  All  documents  quoted  from,  unless  otherwise  indicated, 
are  in  the  Maryland  Diocesan  Library. 

The  author  is  not  a  theologian  and  is  not,  be  it  confessed, 
particularly  interested  in  the  theological  doctrines  and  dis- 
cussions of  Claggett's  day.  He  has,  therefore,  touched  but 
lightly  upon  these  features,  being  content  in  the  endeavor  to 
reproduce  a  more  material  picture  of  the  life  and  times  of  the 
Maryland  bishop  and  old-time  Southern  gentleman. 

Acknowledgments  are  gratefully  made  to  Mr.  Lawrence 
C.  Wroth,  my  successor  at  the  Diocesan  Library,  for  his  very 
great  kindness  in  verifying  certain  quotations  and  dates  and 
for  making  many  helpful  suggestions;  to  Bernard  C.  Steiner, 
Ph.  D.,  librarian  of  the  Enoch  Pratt  Free  Library,  of  Balti- 


viii  PREFACE 

more,  for  reading  and  criticising  the  manuscript,  particularly 
those  portions  pertaining  to  Maryland  civil  history ;  and  to  the 
Rev.  F.  M.  Gibson,  the  present  librarian  of  the  Maryland 
Diocesan  Library,  for  a  number  of  courtesies,  warmly  appre- 
ciated. 

GEORGE  B.  UTLEY. 

Secretary's  Office, 

American  Library  Association, 

Chicago,  April  15,  IplS. 


CHAPTER  I 

ANCESTRY  AND  EARLY  LIFE 

Thomas  John  Claggett  was  born  October  2,  1743,  at 
White's  Landing,  on  the  Patuxent  River,  about  two  miles 
below  Nottingham,  in  Prince  George's  County,  southern  Mary- 
land. This  little  settlement  was  then  of  considerable  com- 
mercial importance,  boasting  an  extensive  coastwise  trade  and 
a  packet  line  to  England. 

Thomas  John  was  the  son  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Clagett,  who 
was  rector  successively  of  Christ  Church  Parish,  Calvert 
County,  and  William  and  Mary  Parish,  Charles  County.  His 
original  ancestor  in  this  country  was  Thomas  Clagett,-*^  who 
emigrated  from  England  and  settled  on  St.  Leonard's  Creek, 
in  Calvert  County,  in  l67l.  This  was  but  forty-two  years 
after  the  first  settlement  of  Kent  Island,  on  the  eastern  shore 
of  the  Chesapeake  Bay,  and  but  thirty-seven  years  after  the 
English  had  landed  at  St.  Mary's,  on  the  extreme  southern 
tip  of  the  western  shore.  The  land  was  even  more  primeval 
along  St.  Leonard's  Creek.  The  first  white  man  had  settled 
there  only  about  twenty  years  before,  and  when  Thomas 
Clagett  came  probably  a  very  small  part  of  the  land  was 
under  cultivation.  Most  of  it  was  a  wide  forest  where  the 
Indian  still  hunted  his  game  pretty  much  undisturbed  by  the 
intrusion  of  the  pale  face. 

Family  tradition  affirms  that  the  Clagetts  were  of  Norman 
stock,  and  that  the  first  of  the  name  in  England  came  across 
the  Channel  with  the  Conqueror  and  participated  in  the  battle 
of  Hastings.     The  Rev.  John  Eversfield,  of  Prince  George's 

^  The  genealogical  data  in  this  chapter  are  drawn  from  The  Bowies  and 
their  Kindred,  by  W.  W.  Bowie,  Washington,  1899. 

1 


2  LIFE  OJJ  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

County,  whose  wife  was  Bishop  Claggett's  aunt,  kept  a  diary 
which  is  still  preserved,  and  in  which  is  stated:  "Clagett  of 
Houghton,  County  Cambridge,  England,  born  prior  to  1100, 
assumed  in  1104  the  arms  as  since  borne  by  the  family, 
namely:  Ermine  on  a  fess  sable,  three  pheons,  or;  crest,  an 
eagle's  head,  erased;  ermine  ducally  crowned,  or,  between  two 
wings  sable.  Motto,  Gratia  Dei  Grata;  translated,  'The  ac- 
ceptable grace  of  God.'  "  This  description  of  the  Clagett  arms 
corresponds  with  that  given  in  Burke's  English  Heraldry.  It 
may  be  well  here  to  state  that  the  bishop  was  the  first  of  his 
name  in  this  country  to  spell  the  name  with  the  double  "g." 
When  he  went  to  England  for  holy  orders  in  1767  he  made 
some  study  of  the  English  records,  which  convinced  him  that, 
although  his  American  ancestors  spelled  the  name  "Clagett," 
the  proper  way  was  "Claggett,"  and  he  immediately  adopted 
the  latter  form.  Contemporaries  had  many  variations  of  his 
name;  Cleget,  Cleggett,  Claggatt,  and  Claggitt  being  among 
those  found.^ 

The  earliest  member  of  the  family  of  whom  we  have  any 
authentic  record  is  Robert  Claggett,  who  was  born  about  1490 
at  Mailing,  Kent  County.  His  son,  Richard,  born  about  1525, 
married  a  daughter  of  Sir  Robert  Gouder.  Their  son,  George, 
was  thrice  mayor  of  Canterbury,  in  1609,  1622  and  1632. 
He  had  at  least  two  sons,  Edward  and  Nicholas.  The  latter, 
who  was  born  in  l609,  became  a  Puritan  and  something  of  a 
philosopher.  He  also  had  two  sons,  both  of  them  clergymen. 
The  younger  son,  Nicholas,  born  in  1650,  was  for  sixty  years 
preacher  at  St.  Mary's,  at  Bury  St.  Edmunds.  His  son,  also 
named  Nicholas,  became  a  distinguished  theologian  and  was 
elected  Bishop  of  St.  David's,  in  Wales,  in  1739  and  later 
became  Bishop  of  Exeter.  Dr.  Norton  in  his  "Life  of  Bishop 
Claggett  (of  Maryland),"  says,  "It  is  an  interesting  fact  that 
the  first  bishop  of  Maryland  was  a  descendant  of  Nicholas 

^Collateral  descendants  spell  the  name  "Clagett." 


ANCESTRY  AND  EARLY  LIFE  3 

Claggett,  who^  during  the  reign  of  George  the  Second,  was 
Bishop  of  St.  David's,  and  afterwards  of  Exeter,  England." 
This  is  an  error;  the  Maryland  Claggett's  descent  is  through 
Edward,  brother  of  the  ancestor  of  the  English  bishop. 

This  Edward  Claggett  was  born  about  1605.  Unlike  his 
brother  he  was  a  staunch  loyalist  and  held  a  colonel's  com- 
mission in  the  army  of  Charles  the  First,  being  imprisoned  at 
one  time,  it  is  said,  in  the  Tower  of  London  by  the  Puritans. 
He  married  Margaret  Adams,  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Adams, 
the  Lord  Mayor  of  London,  and  an  author  of  some  note.  The 
names  of  five  of  their  children  are  recorded:  three  daughters 
and  two  sons,  Richard  and  Thomas. 

Thomas  Claggett,  or  Clagett,  as  he  spelled  it  after  coming 
to  America,  was  born  about  1635  or  '40.  For  a  time  he  was 
an  officer  in  the  king's  navy.  Leaving  the  service  and  his  in- 
herited estates  in  England,  he  emigrated  to  America  in  the 
autumn  of  1670,  arriving  in  Maryland  early  in  1671,  and,  as 
we  have  already  said,  settled  on  St.  Leonard's  Creek,  near 
St.  Leonard's  Town,  Calvert  County. 

In  1632,  or  some  thirty-nine  years  before  this,  George  Cal- 
vert, Lord  Baltimore,  a  Roman  Catholic,  had  obtained  a 
patent  of  the  territory  named  therein  Maryland,  and  in  1634 
his  son  and  successor  to  the  title  sent  over  a  colony  which 
settled  at  St.  Mary's,  near  the  Potomac  River,  a  few  miles 
above  its  confluence  with  Chesapeake  Bay.  Although  a  large 
number  of  the  colonists  were  Church  of  England  men,  yet  the 
only  ministers  of  religion  sent  over  to  them  under  the  patron- 
age of  the  Lord  Baltimore  were  Jesuits.  For  the  first  sixteen 
years  it  is  not  known  that  there  were  any  other  religious 
teachers  than  these  among  them.  From  the  fact  that  Roman 
Catholic  priests  were  the  only  religious  instructors  in  early 
Maryland  the  conclusion  has  often  been  drawn  that  most  of 
the  colonists  were  Roman  Catholics,  but  historical  research 
has  shown  this  assumption  to  be  incorrect. 


4  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

About  1650  another  colony  came  in  from  Virginia  and 
settled  mostly  on  the  Severn  River  near  where  it  enters  the 
Bay^  but  a  few  settled  on  the  Patuxent  and  West  rivers. 
These  new  arrivals  were  mostly  Puritans,  dissenters  from  the 
Church  of  England,  who  did  not  find  a  congenial  atmosphere 
in  Virginia,  where  the  Church  had  become  established.  Some 
fifteen  years  after  they  had  settled  in  Maryland  Quaker 
preachers  came  in  among  them  and  secured  quite  a  following. 
Not  far  from  this  time,  1665,  a  number  of  Presbyterians  came 
over  from  Scotland  and  located  in  Somerset  County  on  the 
eastern  shore,  and  in  Prince  George's  County  on  the  western 
shore.  Their  numbers,  however,  were  small  compared  with 
other  denominations.  Through  all  these  sections  Church  of 
England  men  were  intermingled,  and  in  some  localities  there 
were  none  of  any  other  religious  persuasion. 

The  population  of  the  province  increased  very  slowly.  In 
1692  there  were  only  about  25,000  souls  in  Maryland.  The 
Church  of  England  possessed  eighteen  or  twenty  places  of 
worship,  but  only  four  or  five  of  her  clergy  were  in  the  field. 
The  Roman  Catholics  and  the  Quakers  each  constituted  about 
one-twelfth  of  the  total  population.  The  proportion  of  Puri- 
tans, Presbyterians  and  Lutherans  is  not  known.  Such,  how- 
ever, was  the  influence  of  the  Church  of  England  adherents 
that  in  1692  that  church  became  the  established  church  of  the 
province  by  act  of  the  General  Assembly.  The  ten  counties 
of  which  the  province  of  Maryland  then  consisted  were  di- 
vided into  thirty  parishes,  seventeen  on  the  western  shore  and 
thirteen  on  the  eastern  shore.  This  movement  for  establish- 
ment was  the  direct  outgrowth  of  the  people's  alarm  at  the 
conspicuous  activity  of  the  Jesuit  priests  in  the  colony,  al- 
though the  Protestants  greatly  outnumbered  the  Papists,  as 
noted  above.  But  those  were  times  when  the  Englishman  felt 
that  he  must  watch  warily  to  prevent  the  pope  from  again 
gaining  supremacy  in  his  home  country.    It  was  just  after  the 


ANCESTRY  AND  EARLY  LIFE  6 

scare  of  the  "horrid"  popish  plot  and  Protestants  were  tak- 
ing no  chances.  Their  unjust  suspicions  had  even  fallen  on 
the  Lord  Baltimore,  and  in  I69I  the  king,  hearkening  to  the 
fears  of  the  over-timid,  had  deprived  his  lordship  of  all  pub- 
lic offices  and  functions.  He  was  allowed,  however,  to  keep 
the  receipt  of  his  rentals  and  all  private  emoluments,  but  full 
privileges  were  not  restored  to  him  until  1715.  So  when  the 
desire  for  an  establishment  came  to  be  expressed  it  was  most 
natural  that  the  Church  of  England  should  be  the  popular 
choice,  for  this  church  had  by  far  the  largest  following,  and 
the  largest  share  of  affection  and  loyalty  of  the  people  at 
large.  But  the  action  was  not  effected  without  a  naturally 
strong  and  persevering  opposition  on  the  part  of  the  Roman 
Catholics,  Quakers,  Puritans,  Presbyterians  and  Lutherans, 
who  in  this  contest  were  banded  together. 

The  act  of  the  assembly  as  finally  passed  provided  that  the 
Church  of  England  should  be  established,  and  for  its  support 
there  should  be  levied  annually  a  tax  of  forty  pounds  of 
tobacco  per  poll  upon  all  taxable  inhabitants  of  the  colony, 
this  tax  to  be  collected  by  the  sheriff.  The  appointment  of 
ministers  to  parishes  was  to  be  made  by  the  governor,  without 
appeal,  induction  being  in  his  hands,  and  the  minister  was  to 
keep  a  clerk  and  provide  for  him  out  of  his  own  income.  Only 
a  minister  could  perform  a  marriage  ceremony,  where  one 
was  resident,  his  fee  being  five  shillings  sterling.  The  num- 
ber of  vestrymen  was  set  at  six  as  a  minimum,  two  to  be  voted 
out  at  the  annual  meeting,  but  they  could,  if  the  parish  de- 
sired, be  immediately  voted  in  again.  The  parish  records 
show  that  some  of  the  vestrymen  were  continuously  in  that 
office,  through  re-election,  for  ten,  twenty,  and  even  thirty 
years.  By  a  subsequent  law  passed  in  1730  the  two  longest 
in  office  were  to  be  dropped  and  were  not  eligible  again  for 
three  years.  The  minister  was  a  member  of  the  vestry.  Per- 
sons refusing  to  be  made  wardens  were  to  be  fined  one  thou- 


6  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

sand  pounds  of  tobacco,  the  same  to  go  to  the  king,  most 
likely  as  a  stronger  assurance  that  the  fine  would  be  collected. 
No  minister  could  hold  more  than  two  parishes,  and  he  must 
have  the  consent  of  both.  Dissenters  were  eligible  to  the 
office  of  vestrymen.  This  was  declared  by  the  governor  and 
council  in  1751,  when  Piscataway  Parish  refused  to  qualify 
one  who  had  been  elected.  Churches  were  not  erected  by 
private  subscription,  but  by  levies  on  the  taxables  voted  by  the 
General  Assembly. 

Whether  it  was  wise  or  proper  to  require  this  tax  by  law 
we  are  not  to  inquire,  but  on  the  part  of  those  opposed  to  it 
it  was  restlessly  submitted  to  and  fiercely  attacked  whenever 
opportunity  afforded.  In  the  defence  of  their  support  the 
clergy  waged  an  unceasing  defensive  war.  The  effect  was 
bad  upon  themselves  and  embittered  hostilities  against  them. 
The  system  concentrated  their  minds  upon  worldly  interests 
and  laid  them  open  to  the  serious  charge  of  seeking  the  fleece 
instead  of  the  flock.  Results  were  bound  to  be  disastrous  and 
Bishop  Claggett  and  his  contemporaries  reaped  undeservedly 
the  crop  of  a  hundred  years  of  sowing. 

One  of  the  thirty  parishes  into  which  the  province  was  di- 
vided in  1692  consisted  of  the  lower  portion  of  what  is  now 
Calvert  County,  and  was  given  the  name  of  Christ  Church 
Parish.  It  was  in  this  parish  that  Captain  Thomas  Clagett 
(as  he  appears  to  have  spelled  his  name  after  coming  to 
America)  settled,  and  in  which  he  was  a  member  of  the  first 
appointed  vestry.  He  was  apparently  well-to-do  when  he 
came  to  Maryland,  as  he  at  once  purchased  several  large  tracts 
of  land  in  various  parts  of  the  province,  such  as  "Goodling- 
ton  Manor,"  one  thousand  acres  on  the  eastern  shore; 
"Weston,"  eight  hundred  acres  on  the  western  shore  near 
Upper  Marlboro;  "Greenland,"  and  "Croom,"  in  Prince 
George's  County,  the  latter  of  which  we  shall  presently  hear 
more  of,  as  it  eventually  became  the  bishop's  estate. 


ANCESTRY  AND  EARLY  LIFE  7 

Thomas  Clagett  died  in  1703,  possessed  of  large  landed  es- 
tates in  Maryland  and  of  some  property  in  England,  His 
will  was  probated  in  1706.  He  left  a  widow,  four  sons  and 
two  daughters.  The  fourth  son,  Richard,  who  inherited 
"Croom,"  was  born  about  1681  in  Calvert  County.  About 
1704  he  married  Deborah  Dorsey,  the  widow  of  Charles 
Ridgley,  of  Baltimore  County.  Richard  Clagett's  name  is 
frequently  found  as  land  commissioner  for  Prince  George's 
County,  and  as  either  a  purchaser  or  seller  of  land  in  various 
parts  of  the  province.  He  died  in  1752,  when  his  grandson, 
Thomas  John,  was  nine  years  old,  and  was  buried  at  Croom. 
He  left  three  sons  and  three  daughters.  One  of  the  latter, 
Eleanor  Clagett,  married  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  Eversfield,  who 
was  the  tutor  and  theological  instructor  of  the  future  bishop. 
The  second  child  and  eldest  son,  Edward  Clagett,  is  the 
great-great-grandfather  of  Edwin  Warfield,  ex-governor  of 
Maryland. 

The  Rev.  Samuel  Clagett,  father  of  the  bishop,  was  the 
second  son  of  Richard,  and  was  born  about  1710  on  his 
father's  estate,  "Croom."  In  1740  he  married  Elizabeth 
Gantt,  daughter  of  Edward  Gantt,  a  Calvert  County  planter, 
and  settled  on  an  estate  near  Nottingham,  close  by  "Croom." 
Their  children  were  Priscilla  and  Thomas  John.  When  in 
middle  age,  Samuel  Clagett  forsook  his  plantation  life, 
studied  theology,  and  in  1747  crossed  to  England  to  secure 
holy  orders,  being  ordained  a  deacon  in  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land by  Richard  Terrick,  Lord  Bishop  of  Peterborough,  act- 
ing for  the  Bishop  of  London,  and  priest  on  the  20th  of 
December,  1747.  Returning  to  Maryland  he  served  as  rector 
successively  of  Christ  Church  Parish,  Calvert  County,  and 
William  and  Mary  Parish,  Charles  County.  His  wife  died  in 
1750,  when  Thomas  John  was  but  seven  years  old,  and  a  year 
or  two  later  he  married  Anne  Brown,  daughter  of  Dr.  Gus- 
tavus  Brown,  of  Charles  County.     In  August,  1756,  the  Rev. 


8  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

Samuel  Clagett  died,  in  the  very  prime  of  life,  after  having 
been  in  the  ministry  but  nine  years.  He  is  said  to  have  been 
a  man  of  considerable  scholarly  attainment,  a  worthy  pastor 
and  a  highly  respected  citizen.  Besides  his  daughter  Priscilla 
and  his  son  Thomas  John,  now  left  completely  an  orphan  at 
thirteen  years,  he  left  a  widow  and  an  infant  son,  Samuel, 
who  became  a  physician  at  Warrenton,  Virginia,  where  he 
died  in  1820,  surviving  his  half-brother,  the  bishop,  by  about 
three  and  a  half  years.  To  Thomas  John  he  left  his  estate 
called  Croom,  of  500  acres.  His  only  daughter,  Priscilla, 
became  the  second  wife  of  Col.  Samuel  Chew,  who  lived  at 
"Upper  Bennett,"  in  Calvert  County.  By  this  marriage  there 
were  two  children,  both  sons,  the  eldest  of  whom.  Col.  John 
Hamilton  Chew,  born  September  14th,  1771,  married  his  first 
cousin,  Priscilla  Claggett,  the  eldest  daughter  of  the  bishop. 
Many  descendants  of  this  union  are  living  today,  most  of 
whom  still  remain  in  Maryland. 

After  the  death  of  his  father  Thomas  John  was  placed 
under  the  guardianship  of  his  mother's  brother,  Edward 
Gantt,  of  Calvert  County,  who  in  turn  placed  him  imder  the 
instruction  of  the  Rev.  John  Eversfield,  the  rector  of  St. 
Paul's,  Prince  George's  County,  and  whose  wife,  as  we  have 
noted,  was  yoimg  Claggett's  aunt  on  his  father's  side.  Here 
he  remained  three  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  was  sent 
to  Lower  Marlboro  Academy.  At  that  time  and  for  thirty 
years  previous,  there  was  established  in  each  of  the  Maryland 
counties,  by  act  of  the  General  Assembly,  a  grammar  school, 
or  academy,  where  a  fair  classical  education  might  be  ob- 
tained. The  school  for  Calvert  County  was  situated  at 
Lower  Marlboro  and  here  Claggett  received  such  a  thorough 
training  in  Latin  and  Greek  that  their  study  remained  a 
favorite  pursuit  throughout  his  long  life. 

Having  received  the  necessary  preparatory  training,  at  the 
age  of  seventeen  Claggett  entered  the  College  of  New  Jersey, 


ANCESTRY  AND  EARLY  LIFE  9 

now  Princeton  University,  where  he  was  graduated  with  the 
degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts  on  September  25th,  1764.  Young 
men  from  all  the  American  colonies  were  gathered  in  the  New 
Jersey  college  at  that  time,  and  we  know  that  Claggett  made 
many  lifelong  friends.  He  had  a  most  genial  and  amiable 
disposition,  was  always  ready  to  pass  a  pleasant  word,  pos- 
sessed a  commanding  intellect,  and  was  tall,  broad-shouldered 
and  stalwart.  In  youth  as  well  as  in  manhood  he  possessed 
a  noble  and  unsullied  character  and  dignity  of  mind  which 
made  him  respected  as  well  as  admired.  We  know  very  little 
about  his  college  days,  however,  not  even  the  standard  of 
scholarship  which  he  attained,  for  Princeton  village  was  for 
a  time  the  storm  center  of  the  Revolution,  and  the  college 
archives  suffered  sorely. 

It  is  rather  interesting,  however,  to  recall  some  of  the  men 
whom  Claggett  must  have  known  in  his  student  days,  for,  as 
the  college  was  then  comparatively  small,  he  must  have  been 
more  or  less  intimately  acquainted  with  all  his  fellow  students. 
In  the  class  of  1762,  two  years  ahead  of  him,  was  Ebenezer 
Hazard,  afterwards  postmaster  of  New  York,  postmaster- 
general  of  the  United  States  from  1782  to  '89,  and  also  re- 
membered as  the  compiler  of  Hazard's  Historical  Collections. 
James  Manning,  also  of  the  class  of  '62,  became  a  prominent 
Baptist  minister  and  the  first  president  of  Brown  University. 
In  the  class  of  1763  were  William  Paterson,  governor  of  New 
Jersey,  United  States  senator,  and  a  justice  of  the  United 
States  supreme  court;  and  Tapping  Reeve,  the  most  prom- 
inent teacher  of  law  of  his  day  in  the  country  and  who  was 
chief  justice  of  Connecticut  at  the  time  of  his  death.  In  the 
class  of  '65  were  Jonathan  Edwards,  worthy  son  of  a  worthy 
sire,  who  himself  was  a  theologian  and  metaphysician  of  no 
mean  reputation;  and  David  Ramsay,  who  made  a  name  for 
himself  in  his  adopted  state  of  South  Carolina,  as  a  patriot  in 
the  Revolution,  an  exceptionally  successful  surgeon,  and  an 


10  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

historian  of  some  note.  Three  men  worthy  of  mention  in  the 
class  of  1766  whom  Claggett  must  have  known  were  Waight- 
still  Avery,  who  became  the  first  attorney-general  of  North 
Carolina;  Oliver  Ellsworth,  of  Connecticut,  eminent  as  a 
patriot,  statesman.  United  States  senator,  diplomatist,  and 
chief  justice  of  the  United  States;  and  Luther  Martin,  of 
Maryland,  Burr's  friend  and  defender,  whom  JeiFerson  called 
"the  Federal  bulldog,"  the  jovial,  rollicking,  witty  and 
audacious  attorney-general  of  Maryland.  Luther  Martin  was 
not  a  Marylander  by  birth,  did  not  come  to  Maryland  until 
after  he  left  college,  so  we  have  no  reason  to  believe  that  he 
and  Claggett  were  intimate  because  of  any  state  associations. 


CHAPTER  II 

SOUTHERN  MARYLAND  IN  COLONIAL  DAYS 

During  the  autumn  of  1763,  while  on  his  way  from  Boston 
to  Savannah,  the  Rev.  George  Whitefield,  the  great  evangelist 
and  inspirer  of  multitudes,  made  a  brief  stop  at  Princeton. 
Whitefield  was  then  on  his  sixth,  and  next  to  his  last,  tour 
through  America,  and,  although  his  physical  health  had  been 
seriously  impaired  by  excessive  activity  and  open  air  preach- 
ing, he  was  undoubtedly  then  at  the  height  of  his  intellectual 
attainments  and  magnetic  abilities.  Very  naturally  he 
preached  to  the  students  at  the  college,  and,  as  he  always  did, 
made  a  remarkable  impression,  sixteen  of  them  being  con- 
verted during  this  visit.  Among  his  hearers  was  young 
Claggett.  We  do  not  know  what  Claggett  thought  of  White- 
field  as  a  Churchman,  nor  of  his  peculiarities  of  public  utter- 
ance, but  as  an  inspirer  to  do  and  to  be  Whitefield  certainly 
had  a  great  and  abiding  influence  over  the  young  man.  In 
after  life  the  bishop  "often  endeavored  to  portray  the  strik- 
ing and  interesting  scene  presented  by  the  impassioned  orator, 
on  the  one  hand  pouring  forth  his  mind  in  his  burning  words, 
and  impressing  his  every  passion  and  his  every  shade  of  feel- 
ing upon  the  mind  of  his  audience;  and  on  the  other  hand,  a 
large  assembly,  consisting  chiefly  of  careless  youth,  who  had 
hardly  ever  before  entertained  a  serious  thought,  wholly  ab- 
sorbed in  the  consideration  of  the  important  truths  of  religion, 
and  swayed  at  pleasure  by  the  irresistible  control  of  a  master 
spirit."^ 

Claggett  probably  had  thoughts  of  entering  the  ministry 

1  Memoir  of  Bishop  Claggett,  by  Rev.  J.  H.  Chew,  in  The  Evergreen, 
Jan.  1847,  p.  1. 

11 


12  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

before  he  met  Whitefield,  and  came  under  the  influence  of 
that  remarkable  personality,  but  doubtless  this  experience 
confirmed  his  earlier  convictions.  Also  it  is  likely  that  the 
earnest  teaching  of  the  pious  Dr.  Finley,  president  of  the 
college,  had  due  weight  in  his  deliberations  concerning  his  life 
work.  After  graduating  in  1764,  when  lacking  a  few  days  of 
being  twenty-one  years  old,  he  returned  immediately  to  Prince 
George's  County  and  took  up  theological  studies  under  the 
personal  direction  and  supervision  of  his  uncle,  the  Rev.  Dr. 
John  Eversfield.  One  finds  many  and  divers  opinions  ex- 
pressed by  contemporaries  concerning  Dr.  Eversfield  as  a 
clergyman  and  as  a  theologian,  but  few  will  deny  that  the 
doctor  thoroughly  enjoyed  a  good  fox  hunt.  To  attach  to 
him,  however,  the  odium  that  usually  accompanies  the  phrase 
of  "fox-hunting  parson"  would  undoubtedly  be  unjust  and 
undeserved,  for,  although  the  worthy  man  seems  to  have  had 
a  keen  pleasure  in  a  good  mount  and  a  pack  of  hounds,  there 
is  nothing  to  show  that  he  abused  this  pastime,  or  that  the 
love  of  it  made  him  a  less  faithful  pastor,  or  a  less  able  theo- 
logian. He  was  a  man  of  mark  in  his  day,  and  one  of  the 
most  widely  known  ministers  of  the  gospel  in  the  colonies. 

Dr.  Eversfield  came  to  Maryland  from  England  in  1728, 
a  young  Oxford  graduate  in  priest's  orders,  and  Benedict 
Leonard  Calvert,  the  proprietary  governor,  presented  him 
with  the  living  of  St.  Paul's,  Prince  George's  County,  then  a 
prominent  parish.  Here  he  remained  rector  for  nearly  fifty 
years.  The  present  brick  church,  known  as  St.  Thomas's,  and 
originally  intended  as  a  chapel  of  ease  to  St.  Paul's  Parish, 
was  erected  under  his  supervision.  Eversfield  brought  con- 
siderable money  from  England  and  invested  extensively  in 
land,  being  at  his  death  one  of  the  largest  landowners  in  the 
county.  He  lived  on  one  of  his  estates  located  in  Nottingham 
District,  about  two  miles  from  St.  Thomas's  Church,  and 
called  the  estate  "Eversfield's  Map  of  Italy"  on  account  of 


SOUTHERN  MARYLAND   IN  COLONIAL  DAYS  13 

its  peculiar  shape.  He  was  known  as  a  man  of  pronounced 
opinions,  exceptional  learning,  great  wealth,  and  wide  in- 
fluence, both  in  church  and  secular  matters.  Many  volumes 
of  his  library,  extensive  for  that  period,  are  yet  in  existence. 
He  was  very  methodical  in  his  habits,  and  kept  a  minute  rec- 
ord of  his  personal  and  domestic  affairs  in  a  large  parch- 
ment bound  volume,  which  is  still  in  the  possession  of  one  of 
his  descendants.  This  book  contains  memoranda  of  his  gen- 
ealogy, deeds  of  land,  receipts,  notes,  bonds,  letters,  and  items 
of  every  subject  which  interested  him,  and  is  considerable  of 
a  curiosity.  He  conducted  a  private  school  at  his  house,  as 
did  so  many  of  the  clergy  in  his  day,  for  the  twofold  reason 
that  they  needed  the  additional  compensation  to  supplement 
their  meagre  clerical  stipends,  and  that  frequently  the  parson 
was  the  only  man  available  who  possessed  anything  more  than 
the  rudiments  of  book-learning. 

He  was  a  most  pronounced  Tory,  never  hesitating  to  air  his 
opinion  on  matters  political  as  well  as  theological,  and  thereby 
giving  offence  to  many  of  his  fellow-citizens  when  trouble 
began  to  brew  that  led  to  the  war  for  independence.  At  one 
time  during  the  conflict  he  was  so  unwise  in  his  speech  that 
he  was  arrested,  placed  under  guard,  and  his  property  was 
confiscated  by  the  provincial  government.  But  he  was  getting 
old,  and  besides  was  much  respected  in  spite  of  his  fiery 
tongue,  so  he  was  shortly  released  and  had  his  property  re- 
stored to  him.  He  did  not  live  to  see  the  final  victory  of  the 
cause  which  he  had  so  vigorously  disparaged.  He  died  on 
the  8th  of  November,  1780,  and  his  wife  only  survived  him 
about  a  month.  Both  were  buried  under  the  altar  of  St. 
Thomas's  Church,  at  Croom. 

He  was  rector  of  the  wealthiest  and  the  most  prominent 
parish  in  Maryland  at  that  time,  with  possibly  the  exception 
of  All  Saints',  Frederick  County.  As  an  illustration  of  the 
then  luxurious  manner  in  which  their  parish  church  was  fur- 


14  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

nished,  it  may  be  of  some  interest  to  give  the  following  brief 
transcript  from  the  Vestry  Proceedings.  At  the  vestry  meet- 
ing on  June  2d,  1752,  at  which  Dr.  Eversfield  was  present, 
we  find  recorded: 

"The  Vestry  have  this  day  agreed  with  M'  Samuel  Roundell 
that  he  provide  for  the  Church  a  Pulpit  Cloth  &  Cushion  of 
Crimson  Velvet,  the  Glory  in  gold,  with  Gold  fringe  &  Tassels 
y*  Cloth  to  be  six  feet  in  width  &  three  feet  two  Inches  deep 
the  Cushion  to  be  two  feet  &  a  half  long.  Also  a  handsome 
Marble  Font  a  Crimson  Velvet  Carpet  for  y®  Communion 
Table  Eight  f '  &  a  half  wide  &  four  &  a  half  feet  deep.  A 
Cloth  for  the  Reading  Desk  of  the  same  Velvet  three  feet 
four  Inches  wide  and  Eighteen  Inches  deep.  The  ten  Com- 
mandments &  the  Belief  &  Lord's  Prayer  a  hanging  Dial  the 
plate  to  be  two  feet  Square  and  to  be  paid  for  y®  same  next 
June  in  manner  following  that  is  to  say  Twenty  P  Cent  to  be 
added  on  the  amount  of  the  Cost  &  Charges  the  following 
Motto  to  be  on  the  Dial  Viz  Sic  transit  Gloria  Mundi.  And 
if  it  should  so  happen  that  the  money  or  any  part  thereof 
should  not  be  paid  him  at  y'  time  afore  mentioned  then  to 
pay  him  interest  at  y*  Rate  of  6  P  C  till  it  is  discharged." 

At  a  vestry  held  on  the  5th  of  March,  1754,  nearly  two 
years  later,  "M'  Samuel  Roundell  appears  &  acquaint  the 
Vestry  men  present  that  the  Several  things  for  the  Church 
agreeable  to  the  Order  formerly  made  he  had  received  from 
London.  At  the  same  time  produced  the  Bill  of  parcels  for 
every  particular  which  with  the  charges  &  advance  amounts 
to  One  hundred  &  Forty  pounds  Nineteen  Shillings  Sterling 
Exclusive  of  the  Charge  for  bringing  them  from  the  Mouth 
of  Potuxent  River."  A  couple  of  pages  further  on,  in  casting 
up  an  itemized  account,  the  vestryman  frankly  records:  "N. 
B.  The  Charges  of  bringing  the  Goods  from  the  Mouth  of 
Potuxent  River  to  Nottingham  at  present  I  don't  know." 

We  have  given  these  particulars  from  the  history  and  an- 


SOUTHERN  MARYLAND  IN  COLONIAL  DAYS  15 

tiquities  of  old  St.  Paul's,  because  this  is  the  parish  over 
which  the  good  bishop  was  destined  to  preside  for  many 
peaceful  years. 

Claggett  pursued  his  theological  studies  in  a  little  two- 
room,  two-story,  red-and-blue  brick  building,  erected  on  the 
lawn  under  the  trees,  entirely  apart  from  the  rectory.  There 
was  no  vestibule,  but  on  opening  the  door  one  stepped  directly 
into  the  room,  which  was  lighted  by  small,  diamond-shaped 
window  panes.  The  walls  were  wainscoted  in  oak,  and  in  the 
center  of  the  room,  entirely  free  from  the  walls,  a  little  spiral 
stairway,  with  its  carved  balustrade,  ascended  to  the  room 
above.  This  singular  structure  reminded  one  of  a  pulpit  more 
than  of  anything  else,  and  it  is  not  at  all  unlikely  that  the 
youthful  theologian  preached  down  many  a  sermon  to  an 
imaginary  congregation  from  the  turn  in  the  stairs.  This 
quaint  little  building  withstood  the  ravages  of  time  for  several 
generations  and  has  only  recently  been  destroyed. 

In  recognition  of  his  continued  study,  Claggett  received  an 
M.  A.  degree  from  his  Alma  Mater  the  year  following  his 
graduation,  and  in  three  years'  time  he  had  completed  his 
studies  for  holy  orders.  In  the  spring  of  1767,  therefore,  he 
sailed  for  England  for  this  purpose,  and  after  a  successful 
voyage,  was  admitted  to  the  diaconate  on  September  20th, 
1767,  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Richard  Terrick,  Lord  Bishop  of  Lon- 
don, who,  by  virtue  of  his  position  as  the  head  of  the  see  of 
London,  held  ecclesiastical  oversight  of  the  North  American 
colonies.  On  October  11th,  following,  he  was  ordained  a 
priest  in  the  Church  of  England  by  the  same  prelate.  In 
those  days  a  voyage  to  England  from  the  colonies  was  a  tedi- 
ous and  dangerous  undertaking,  for  smallpox  and  other 
dread  diseases  lurked  in  the  holds  of  ships,  and  made  terrible 
ravages  among  slaves  and  gentlefolk  alike.  Because  of  all 
these  obstacles  and  dangers,  most  of  the  young  men  who  went 
from   the   colonies   to   secure   episcopal   ordination   remained 


16  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

there  after  receiving  deacon's  orders  until  the  priesthood  was 
also  conferred  upon  them,  and  to  make  conditions  as  easy  as 
possible  for  candidates  from  abroad,  both  ordinations  were 
frequently  conferred  with  but  a  short  time  intervening.  To 
express  it  another  way,  a  candidate  did  not  generally  go  to 
England  for  deacon's  orders  until  he  was  also  prepared  to 
take  priest's  orders. 

From  the  diary  of  a  young  English  clergyman,  the  Rev. 
Weeden  Butler,  who  soon  became  Claggett's  fast  friend,  we 
have  this  description  of  his  ordination  to  deacon's  orders: 

"Sep.  20:  1767 — Went  with  Messrs  Manester,  Sims,  Foster, 
Wigan  &  Clarke,  in  a  coach  to  the  King's  Arms,  Fulham.  Met 
&  accompanied  to  the  palace  Mr.  Clagett  &  Mr,  Cramp.  Put 
on  bands  &  surplices  &  drank  chocolate.  About  half  past  ten 
o'clock  we  were  all  called  into  Chapel;  the  Bishop,  Mrs.  Ter- 
rick,  &  all  the  family  there.  The  amiable  &  very  worthy  Mr. 
Carr  read  the  prayers  with  great  solemnity.  The  lessons  for 
the  day  were  remarkably  adapted  to  the  occasion.  After- 
wards, in  his  surplice  as  before,  Mr.  Carr  gave  us  an  excellent 
discourse  from  I  Kings  18:  21.  He  closed  with  recommend- 
ing the  duty  of  the  ministry  to  our  care  &  attention  &  with  a 
prayer  to  God  to  bless  us  in  the  discharge  thereof.  Service 
over  about  half  past  twelve.  Then  came  on  the  grandest  of 
all  grand,  solemn  and  awful  ordinances,  the  delivery  of  God's 
most  holy  commission  to  sinful  erring  man.  We  received  or- 
dination &  the  holy  eucharist  at  the  hands  of  the  Bishop  of 
London;  he  alone  imposing  hands  at  the  former;  and  Mr. 
Carr  assisting  him  at  the  latter.  Bless,  Lord,  I  most  humbly 
implore  thee;  bless  thou  the  work  of  their  sacred  hands  upon 
us;  O,  prosper  thou  their  ministrations  to  our  bodies,  by  the 
application  &  sanctifying  grace  of  thy  spirit  to  our  souls ;  that 
we  may  be  indeed  thy  faithful  Aiaicovot.,  &  the  servants  of 
thy  servants,  O  Sovereign  of  life  &  love.  Service  over  about 
one.     The  family  received  the  communion  after  the  deacons 


SOUTHERN  MARYLAND  IN  COLONIAL  DAYS  17 

whose  names  I  subjoin  with  much  pleasure,  &  the  sincerest 
wishes  for  their  success,  &  removal  in  God's  own  time  to  a 
higher  &  still  more  honorable  degree. 

1.  The  friendly,  open,  frank,  engaging  Mr.  Clagett,  a 
native  of  Maryland,  educated  in  a  college  of  the  Jerseys,  & 
in  a  few  weeks  to  sail  for  &  reside  on  a  cure  in  Maryland. 

2.  Mr.  John  Cramp,  my  old  acquaintance  by  sight  &  near 
countryman,  successful  after  some  disappointment  on  former 
application  for  orders,  to  be  ordained  priest  tomorrow,  in  or- 
der to  his  sailing  for  North  Carolina  where  a  cure  is  provided 
for  him."^ 

[The  others  are  all  English.] 

Mr.  Claggett  did  not  sail  for  home  immediately  after  his 
ordination,  but  remained  two  or  three  months  to  study  in  the 
English  libraries,  and  to  visit  family  connections.  In  after 
years  he  delighted  to  tell  of  his  hospitable  reception  by  these 
English  cousins,  and  of  the  pleasant  weeks  spent  with  them 
in  the  mother  country.  Early  in  the  spring  of  1768  he  re- 
turned to  Maryland,  never  to  see  England  again.  We  do  not 
know  just  when  he  arrived,  but  on  March  19th,  1768,  Gover- 
nor Sharpe,  of  Maryland,  gave  him  a  licence  to  oflSciate  in 
St.  Anne's  Church,  Annapolis.  He  also  found  upon  his  return 
that  Bishop  Terrick,  without  solicitation,  had  recommended 
him  to  the  kind  offices  of  the  governor  of  Virginia,  but  he  pre- 
ferred to  remain  in  his  native  Maryland. 

We  find  from  the  records  of  Somerset  Parish,  Somerset 
County,  that  in  June  of  that  year  he  performed  the  marriage 
ceremony  of  his  cousin.  Doctor  Edward  Gantt.  The  follow- 
ing letter  written  by  Gantt  some  years  previously  is  rather 
interesting  in  its  glimpse  of  eighteenth  century  life,  though 
its  assertion  does  not  accord  well  with  the  writer's  early 
launching  into  the  career  of  a  benedict. 

^  Nichols'  Illustrations  of  the  Literary  History  of  the  Eighteenth  Century, 
voL  5,  p.  850. 


18  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

EDWARD  GANTT  TO  BASIL  WARING. 

London  September  29th  1764. 
Dkar  Sir, 

.  .  .  You  must  excuse  my  not  writing  to  you  by  Mr. 
Carroll,  for  really  I  hardly  had  Time  to  scribble  a  few 
Lines  to  my  Father.  But  when  Opportunity  serves  you 
will  always  hear  from  me.  Your  Seal  I  have  not  got  done, 
but  I  shall  try  to  send  it  by  Mr.  Russell's  Ship,  the  Jane, 
which  will  be  in  Maryland  sometime  this  Winter.  I  can't  say 
London  answers  my  Expectations.  But  it  is  generally  the 
Case  with  this  as  with  most  other  Things.  When  our  Ex- 
pectations are  much  raised  by  the  Description  of  any  Thing, 
we  too  often  find  ourselves  disappointed.  I  shall  set  out  for 
Edinburgh  tomorrow  or  the  next  Day;  there  to  spend  three 
or  four  Years,  after  which  I  shall  return  to  Maryland  to 
finish  my  Days,  provided  I  do  not  make  my  Exit  before  that 
Time.  Maryland  I  find  is  the  Place  that  best  pleases  me. 
You  need  not  engage  any  of  the  Girls  to  wait  for  me,  as  I 
am  pretty  well  convinced  I  shall  die  an  old  Batchelor.  Money 
I  never  will  marry  for,  and  one  without  Money  I  think  won't 
suit  my  Circumstances,  therefore  I  find  it  bids  fair  for  a 
single  life.  Miss  no  opportunity  of  writing  as  Mr.  Russell 
can  send  them  every  week  to  Scotland.     I  am 

Your  Sincere  Friend, 

Edw°.  Gantt,  Jun*. 

When  Claggett  began  his  ministry  the  number  of  parishes 
in  Maryland  had  increased  from  thirty,  the  number  in  1692, 
to  forty-four.  There  were  in  these  forty-four  parishes 
eighty-three  places  of  worship.  Each  parish  had  its  rector, 
or  incumbent,  and  some  few  of  the  clergy  possessed  curates, 
or  assistants.  At  this  time  there  were  about  fifty  clergymen 
in  the  province,  and,  as  a  rule,  they  were  comfortably  sup- 
ported financially.     The  population  had  increased  very  con- 


SOUTHERN  MARYLAND  IN  COLONIAL  DAYS  19 

siderably.  From  25,000  in  1692,  it  had  advanced  to  well  nigh 
200,000,  but  of  this  number,  45,000  were  negro  slaves.  Dis- 
sent was  probably  no  greater  in  proportion  than  when  the 
Church  was  established.  Thus  we  see  that  the  increase  in 
parishes  had  not  kept  pace  with  the  increase  in  population. 
We  are  led  to  believe,  however,  that  there  were  too  many 
parishes  originally  organized,  notwithstanding  their  incon- 
veniently large  size,  and  that  conditions  in  Claggett's  time  did 
not  call  for  more  parishes. 

The  following  letter  was  written  by  Claggett  to  his 
friend,  the  Rev.  Weeden  Butler,  soon  after  his  return  to 
Maryland. 

TO  THE  REV.  WEEDEN  BUTLER.^ 

Patxjxent,  Mabtiand,  July  1,  1768. 
Dear  Sir, 

I  embrace  the  earliest  opportunity  to  inform  you  of  my 
safe  arrival  here  amongst  my  friends,  &  also  to  let  you  see 
that  neither  time  nor  space  are  able  in  the  least  to  obliterate 
from  my  mind  the  memory  of  our  friendship.  I  have  some- 
times thought  it  not  a  little  strange  that  you,  in  so  short  a 
time,  should  get  such  possession  of  my  heart;  but  there  is  an 
unknown  something  in  the  very  countenance  of  some  men  that 
enfuses  love  and  esteem  into  the  beholders;  we  do  but  see  & 
we  feel  the  growing  flame.  Thus,  sir,  I  suppose  my  affections 
became  prejudiced  in  your  favor,  &  when  I  found  that  our 
religious  sentiments  were  so  nearly  alike,  this  discovery  laid 
a  foundation  for  mutual  affection  which  will  never  be  eradi- 
cated, no,  not  by  eternity  itself!  for  such  a  passion,  I  hope, 
is  not  incompatible  with  the  joys  of  heaven.  I  intend,  sir,  to 
let  you  hear  from  me  once  every  year,  that  is  by  the  sailing 
of  our  tobacco  ships,  &  hope  you  will  write  in  the  spring  by 

1  This  and  the  two  following  letters  are  from  Nichols'  Illustrations  of  the 
Literary  History  of  the  Eighteenth  Century,  vol.  5,  p.  853-59. 


20  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

their    return.      Mr.    Molleson,    in    Golden-square,    Crutched 
Friars,  will  always  forward  your  letters. 

I  have  not  yet  got  a  parish,  but  have  obtained  the  Gover- 
nor's promise  (in  whose  gift  they  are)  that  I  shall  be  pre- 
ferred as  soon  as  a  good  vacancy  falls.  However,  I  am  not 
entirely  unprovided  for  even  now,  as  I  have  a  curacy  of  <£100' 
a  year,  which,  with  a  farm  that  brings  me  in  about  £150 
more,  is  a  tolerable  maintenance  in  this  country,  where  every- 
thing but  labor  is  much  cheaper  than  with  you.  Our  great 
men's  promises  here  in  church  affairs  are  yet  not  quite  so 
short  as  they  are  in  England;  the  reason  is  because  there  are 
not  so  many  church  cormorants,  pluralities  not  being  tolerated 
here.  We  have  about  fifty  parishes  in  this  province,  few  or 
none  under  three  hundred  pounds  sterling,  &  from  that  to 
seven  or  eight.  I  really  would  advise  you,  if  you  do  not  meet 
with  that  encouragement  which  I  am  sure  your  merit  deserves, 
to  take  a  trip  over,  you  might  easily  get  a  recommendation 
from  Lord  Baltimore  to  our  governor.  I  am  interested  in  this 
advice,  I  own,  but  notwithstanding  that,  it  is  really  better 
than  staying  where  you  are,  without  Dr.  Dodd  rises  in  the 
church,  or  you  have  expectations  from  some  other  quarter. 
Merit  in  your  country  has  long  since  (I  am  sorry  to  say  it) 
lost  its  sterling  value;  moreover,  if  you  should  ever  entertain 
any  thoughts  of  coming  here,  let  me  know  it,  &  I  would  ad- 
vise you  what  steps  to  take  previous  thereto.  I  am  very 
anxious  to  see  an  able  &  good  ministry  in  this  province,  too 
many  of  my  brethren  at  present  being  a  shocking  set  (to  say 
no  worse  of  them)  having  neither  abilities,  a  sense  of  the 
importance  of  their  duty,  nor  (what  is  worse  than  all,)  an  in- 
clination to  perform  it.  "Alas  for  such  shepherds !"  as  Dr. 
Dodd  says  on  the  parable  of  the  good  Samaritan.  Those  are 
excellent    books^    &    I    am    much    obliged    for    your    recom- 

1  $266  in  modern  currency. 
*  Dr.  Dodd's  Sermons,  4v. 


SOUTHERN  MARYLAND  IN  COLONIAL  DAYS  21 

mendation  of  them.  I  endeavor  to  model  my  discourses  on 
the  same  plan,  &  I  hope  they  will  be  attended  with  some  good, 
as  I  seem  to  have  more  attentive  hearers  &  fuller  congrega- 
tions than  any  other  that  I  know  of  here.  The  people  are 
struck  with  a  preacher  who  delivers  his  discourses  out  of  the 
old  drawling  way.  If  Dr.  Dodd  publishes  anything  further, 
please  to  let  me  know  of  it,  as  I  am  determined  to  get  all  of 
his  works.  He  appears  to  me  to  be  the  best  speaker  &  the 
soundest  divine  I  know  in  the  church  &  you  have  a  great  hap- 
piness in  being  so  intimately  connected  with  him.  Should 
there  be  anything  else  published  in  our  way  agreeable  to  your 
principles  I  shall  be  obliged  to  you  to  let  me  hear  of  it,  & 
should  there  be  anything  of  curiosity  to  you  here  in  the  natural 
world  that  you  should  like  to  see,  or  any  other  way  in  which 
I  could  serve  you,  I  shall  always  be  glad  to  do  it.  You  see  I 
have  set  down  my  thoughts  to  you  just  as  they  run,  which 
freedom  I  know  you  will  excuse,  as  I  am,  dear  Brother,  with 
Sincerity,  Your  friend, 

Tho^  Jn°  Claggett. 

TO  THE  SAME. 

Calvert  County,  Maryland,  Sep.  1,  1769. 
Dear  Sir, 

I   received  yours  by   Mr.  ;  though   I   have  not  as 

yet  seen  that  gentleman.  I  am  apprehensive  he  deceived  you 
with  respect  to  my  referring  him  to  your  acquaintance,  for  I 
do  not  remember  that  I  have  seen  him  these  three  or  four 
years.  I  have  sent  to  him  repeatedly  for  the  books  you  were 
so  kind  as  to  remit  me  by  him ;  but  the  last  answer  I  had  from 
him  was,  that  he  had  no  such  books.  I  am  sorry  to  inform 
you  that  this  behavior  is  entirely  consonant  to  his  general 
character;  &  it  is  much  to  be  lamented  that  such  men  cannot 
be  prevented  from  entering  the  ministery.  We  labor  under 
peculiar  disadvantages  in  this  respect  in  this  province;  some 


22  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

of  the  livings  here  are  large,  the  incumbents  (some  of  them) 
seem  to  be  desirous   to   get  clear   of  doing  their  duties,  & 

therefore  recommend  such  men  for  orders.     Mr.  has 

been  repeatedly  trying,  for  some  years  past,  to  obtain  a  recom- 
mendation, but  could  never  carry  his  point  until  he  happened 
to  meet  with  one  of  the  gentlemen  I  have  been  describing, 
whose  curate  he  now  is.  To  prevent  any  like  deceptions  for 
the  future,  I  shall  never  recommend  anyone  to  your  acquaint- 
ance otherwise  than  by  letter.  This  occurrence  may  serve 
to  give  you  some  idea  of  the  behavior  of  the  clergy  of  this 
province.  It  is  a  lamentable  case!  Too  many  of  them 
when  they  get  inducted,  seem  to  act  as  if  they  thought  them- 
selves unaccountable  for  any  of  their  conduct.  The  northern 
provinces  contain  mostly  Presbyterians,  who  now  flock  to 
England  for  orders,  &  the  Church  of  England  is  full  of  them. 
These  and  many  other  reasons  call  loudly  for  a  Bishop  on 
this  side  of  the  Atlantic.  Our  papers  tell  us  that  the  affair 
is  much  aggitated  at  home  and  I  sincerely  wish  that  it  may  be 
carried.  And  if  it  should  please  God  to  place  Dr.  Dodd  in 
this  exalted  station,  how  happy  should  I  be !  how  happy  would 
America  be!  I  know  Dr.  Dodd  has  an  interest  at  Court,  &  I 
heartily  wish  he  would  endeavor  to  be  appointed  for  America, 
for  he  appears  to  me  to  be  just  such  a  man  as  we  want;  &  I 
really  think  there  is  no  station  in  which  he  would  be  more  use- 
ful; but,  however  I  may  please  myself  with  this  reflection, 
God  knows  what  is  best  for  us  &  I  shall  endeavor  cheerfully 
to  acquiesce  in  his  dispensations.  When  I  sat  down  I  intended 
only  to  write  a  few  lines,  to  let  you  know  that  I  should  answer 
your  very  kind  letter  by  Mr.  Hobson,  a  gentleman  of  my  ac- 
quaintance, who  leaves  this  place  in  about  twelve  weeks,  but 

the  mention  of  Mr.  has  led  me  from  my  purpose 

a  little ;  I  shall  therefore  only  add  that,  on  Gov.  Eden's  arrival, 
a  petition  was  preferred  to  him  in  my  behalf  by  the  parish- 
ioners of  All  Saints  parish,  &  his  excellency  was  pleased  to 


SOUTHERN  MARYLAND  IN  COLONIAL  DAYS  23 

grant  me  an  induction  into  the  benefice.  Here  I  believe  I 
shall  remain  for  life,  &  oh !  that  your  &  my  prayers  for  my 
success  with  poor  dying  sinners  may  in  some  measure  be 
answered !  I  fully  intend,  by  the  divine  grace,  to  make  it  the 
business  of  my  life  to  exhort,  persuade,  &  advise  them;  you 
know  that  is  all  we  can  do,  the  success  comes  from  God.  Oh ! 
how  happy  shall  we  be,  my  dear  friend,  if  each  of  us,  after 
having  endeavored  earnestly  to  recommend  the  Lord  Jesus  to 
dying  sinners,  may  meet  at  last  in  the  place  of  blessedness, 
where  we  shall  never  more  be  separated!  Your  letter  almost 
deprives  me  of  any  hopes  of  ever  seeing  you  again  in  this 
world;  however  that  may  be,  depend  upon  it  I  shall  ever 
remain  Your  sincere  friend, 

Tho^  Jn°  Claggktt. 

p.  s.  I  have  sent  you  by  Captain  Bishop  four  hams ;  he  has 
promised  to  land  them  as  his  own,  &  so  they  will  be  clear  of 
the  duty.  I  have  ordered  them  to  be  good,  &  if  you  think 
them  so,  please  let  me  know  it  in  your  next.  I  am  sorry  our 
country  affords  so  little  that  is  worthy  of  your  acceptance; 
but  should  there  be  anything  here  that  you  have  the  least 
curiosity  to  obtain,  be  kind  enough  to  let  me  know  it,  for  I 
shall  always  take  a  peculiar  pleasure  in  getting  it  for  you. 

TO  THE  SAME. 

Sept.  19,  1769. 
Dear  Sir, 

In  my  last  to  you  by  Captain  Bishop  I  mentioned  that  I 
should  take  the  liberty  to  recommend  to  your  acquaintance 
Mr.  Hobson.  This  I  expect  will  be  delivered  to  you  by  that 
gentleman,  &  hope  you  will  find  him  an  agreeable  acquaint- 
ance. Mr.  Hobson  tarries  for  some  time  in  London,  &  I  shall 
make  use  of  him  as  a  vehicle  for  my  letters  when  I  write 
to  you. 


24  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

I  am  now^  Sir,  settled  for  life,  I  believe;  &  desire  nothing 
more  in  this  world  than  to  see  Dr.  Dodd  Bishop  of  America, 
&  you  his  chaplain,  for  I  despair  of  ever  seeing  you  other- 
wise. Religion  here,  my  dear  sir,  is  at  a  very  low  ebb;  here 
is  a  large  vineyard,  with  few,  very  few,  honest  &  sincere 
laborers.  The  common  topic  from  our  pulpit  is  morality  & 
they  have  almost  preached  it  out  of  countenance.  The  fall  of 
man,  the  free  grace  of  God  through  Jesus  Christ  &  the  new 
birth  are  topics  cautiously  avoided  by  them;  judge,  therefore, 
of  our  state.  The  Presbyterian  religion  gains  ground,  & 
seems  to  flourish;  &  most  probably  the  whole  continent  will 
be  presbyterianized  if  we  do  not  obtain  an  able  &  faithful 
bishop  from  our  mother  country.  I  am  sorry  to  hear  the 
uneasiness  &  destructions  that  seem  to  threaten  the  state  on 
your  side  the  water;  we,  too,  have  shared  in  these  troubles, 
the  late  acts  of  Parliament  imposing  internal  duties  on  us 
for  raising  a  revenue,  have  occasioned  much  disturbance.  The 
people  throughout  the  continent  have  entered  into  an  agree- 
ment not  to  take  off  any  European  luxuries.  We  have  a  fine 
country,  capable  of  producing  every  necessity  of  life  in  great 
abundance.  Upon  the  whole  I  do  not  believe  the  acts  of 
Parliament  have  hurt  us,  for  it  is  really  amazing  what  great 
improvements  have  been  made  since  the  acts  took  place  in 
almost  every  branch  of  handicraft  business.  I  heartily  wish 
that  the  mother  country  &  her  colonies  may  be  restored  to 
their  former  state  of  affection  &  duty.  Please  offer  my  best 
wishes  to  Dr.  Dodd;  &  accept,  my  dear  sir,  of  the  hearty 
wishes,  &  sincere  prayers  of  your  friend  &  brother, 

Tho®  Jn°  Claggett. 


CHAPTER    III 

EXPERIENCES  IN  COUNTRY  PARISHES 

On  the  l6th  of  March,  1769,  the  former  rector  having 
died,  Claggett  was  appointed  by  Horatio  Sharpe,  gov' 
ernor  of  Maryland,  curate  in  All  Saints'  Parish,  Calvert 
County,  and  on  the  7th  of  July,  following,  he  was  inducted 
rector  of  the  parish  by  Governor  Eden,  as  we  have  seen  in 
his  letter  to  Mr.  Butler.  This  was  the  upper  parish  of  Cal- 
vert County,  and  it  extended  from  the  Anne  Arundel  County 
line  on  the  north,  southward  for  about  fifteen  miles  to  Hunt- 
ing Creek,  and  from  the  Chesapeake  Bay  westward  to  the 
Patuxent  River,  being  about  ten  miles  in  breadth. 

The  fact  that  he  was  presented  to  his  parish  by  the  gov- 
ernor of  the  colony  may  serve  to  remind  us  that  the  vestries 
in  Maryland,  acting  in  behalf  of  the  parishioners,  had  not 
then,  as  now,  the  power  of  appointing  their  own  rectors.  This 
power  had  from  the  beginning  of  Lord  Baltimore's  govern- 
ment been  lodged  in  his  hands  by  the  charter,  and  he  had  been 
accustomed  to  exercise  it  through  his  governors,  or  lieutenants, 
they  acting  in  his  name. 

Claggett  entered  upon  the  charge  of  All  Saints'  Parish 
with  conditions  very  much  in  his  favor.  He  was  well  and 
favorably  known  in  the  locality,  he  had  many  relatives  and 
warm  friends  who  were  willing  to  aid  him  and  anxious  to 
see  the  young  man  succeed,  and  he  was  thoroughly  acquainted 
with  the  needs  of  his  parish.  There  was  very  little  dissent 
in  the  community.  The  ground  was  well  nigh  all  his  own. 
Years  before  there  had  been  some  little  Puritan  element,  but 
these  adherents  had  mostly  either  come  into  the  church,  or  else 
had  become  Quakers,  of  whom  there  were  a  few  in  the  north- 

25 


26  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

east  part  of  the  parish.     Roman  Catholics  there  were  prac- 
tically none,  and  the  same  is  true  to-day,  for  with  the  excep-  ^ 
tion  of  a  small  chapel  at  Solomon's  Island,  at  the  southern 
tip  of  the  county,  there  is  now  no  Roman  Catholic  place  of 
worship  in  the  whole  of  Calvert  County. 

In  Claggett's  letter  to  his  friend,  the  Rev.  Weeden  Butler, 
we  saw  his  opinion  of  the  morals  and  manners  of  the  Church 
of  England  clergymen.  This  version  of  the  state  of  aifairs 
was  probably  only  too  true.  An  anonymous  writer  in  1769 
says:  "That  the  Clergy  of  Maryland  are  better  provided  for 
than  the  Clergy  of  any  other  Colony,  and  that  they  are  less 
respectable,  is  not  to  be  controverted;  being  subject  even  to 
less  restraint  than  other  men,  they,  in  the  same  proportion, 
are  less  guarded  in  their  morals,  I  speak  of  their  general 
character,  for  there  are  some  of  the  sacred  order  who  are 
men  of  worth  and  merit."-*^ 

There  were  probably  many  faithful  members  among  the 
clergy  in  spite  of  such  unsavory  reports,  for  it  is  always  the 
case  that  one  riotous  individual  gets  himself  more  prominently 
in  the  public  eye  than  fifty  sober  and  quietly  disposed  per- 
sons. In  1768,  however,  there  were  such  flagrant  examples 
of  ministerial  immorality  abroad  and  exercising  the  priestly 
office  that  even  the  legislature  determined  some  steps  must 
be  taken  to  prevent  scandals  in  the  Church  and  the  gossip 
that  these  matters  caused  among  her  denominational  contem- 
poraries. The  measures  proposed  are  shown  in  the  following 
letter  from  Claggett  to  the  Bishop  of  London.  This  letter 
also  shows  that  Claggett,  though  young  in  the  ministry  and  in 
years,  being  but  twenty-six  years  old  and  but  two  years  in 
sacred  orders,  was  interested  practically  in  public  affairs  and 
in  questions  of  the  day. 

^  Perry,  Historical  Collections:  Maryland,  p.  339. 


EXPERIENCES  IN  COUNTRY  PARISHES  27 

TO  THE  BISHOP  OF  LONDON.^ 

Mabtland,  Sept.  20th,  1769. 
My  Lord: 

Since  my  arrival  in  this  Province  I  have  observed  with 
some  concern  that,  in  a  late  Session  of  Assembly,  a  Bill 
was  brought  into  the  house  for  the  better  regulating  the 
lives  and  manners  of  the  Clergy.  By  this  Bill  it  was 
ordered  that  an  Ecclesiastical  Court  should  be  established 
&  that  there  should  be  Judges  appointed,  three  of  which  were 
to  be  laymen.  The  Bill  passed  both  houses  of  Assembly. 
But  Governor  Sharpe  would  not  give  his  consent  to  it,  sup- 
posing (as  we  think)  that  such  a  Bill  was  contrary  to  the 
established  Rules  of  the  Church  of  England. 

It  is  now  said  that  the  advocates  for  the  Bill  will  bring  it 
in  again  next  Session,  in  hopes  that  our  new  Governor  will  be 
more  favorable  to  their  scheme.  Many  of  the  Clergy  here 
view  it  in  a  light  derogatory  to  your  Lordship's  authorities  in 
the  Province,  and  tho'  fully  sensible  that  some  such  regulation 
is  much  wanted,  yet  they  think  it  ought  to  proceed  from  and 
be  directed  by  your  Lordship.  I  doubt  not  but  if  this  or 
any  other  Law  should  be  enacted  which  the  Clergy  look  upon 
as  grievous,  that  a  proper  remonstrance  will  be  made  to  your 
Lordship  by  them,  tho'  they  are  now,  by  a  positive  instruction 
of  the  Lord  Baltimore  to  Governor  Eden,  forbid  assembling 
themselves  together  on  any  occasion  whatever,  a  privilege 
they  have  hitherto  enjoyed.  Your  Lordship's  known  care 
and  zeal  for  the  established  religion  have  emboldened  me  to 
make  the  foregoing  remarks;  &  if  on  any  future  occasion 
I  can  be  of  the  least  service  to  your  Lordship  here,  it  will 
always  contribute  to  the  happyness  of,  my  Lord, 

Your  Lordship's  &c., 

Thos  Jno  Claggett. 

i/fcid,  p.  840-1. 


28  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

On  the  same  date,  the  Rev.  Hugh  Neill,  rector  of  St. 
Paul's  Parish,  Queen  Anne's  County,  wrote  on  the  same  sub- 
ject and  in  a  similar  strain  to  the  Bishop  of  London. 
Although  feeling  that  clerical  reform  was  urgently  needed. 
Churchmen  wished  it  to  emanate  from  the  Church  and  not 
from  the  civil  authorities. 

"I  need  not  take  up  your  Lordship's  time,"  writes  Mr. 
Neill,  "in  pointing  out  the  evil  tendency  that  such  a  law  (if 
it  was  passed)  would  have  upon  the  Church  in  this  provence, 
as  it  would  be  establishing  Presbyterianism  in  this  Colony 
upon  the  neck  of  the  Church,  and  an  effectual  bar  to  the 
introduction  of  Episcopacy,  which  is  generally  wished  for 
by  the  Clergy  of  this  Provence." 

Governor  Sharpe  did  not  sign  the  bill,  which  he  possibly 
saw  was  an  encroachment  upon  the  rights  of  the  established 
Church.  Thus,  between  the  inability  of  the  Church  to  correct 
her  evils  and  the  Church's  determination  that  the  state  should 
not,  very  little  was  accomplished  toward  reform. 

Claggett  remained  in  All  Saints'  Parish  until  the  out- 
break of  the  Revolution,  the  much-loved  pastor  of  a  faithful 
and  much-loved  flock.  When  he  went  to  All  Saints'  he  found 
there  an  old  wooden  church  edifice,  very  much  in  ruins,  and 
much  too  small  for  the  accommodation  of  the  parishioners. 
In  the  early  part  of  1775  he  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  a 
new  church  finished  and  occupied.  This  edifice  still  stands. 
In  its  earlier  days  it  was  remarkable  for  the  height  of  the 
enclosures  to  the  pews,  for  they  were  so  high  that  persons 
sitting  in  them  could  not  see  those  sitting  in  adjoining  ones, 
and  its  pulpit  was  high  in  proportion.  Now  all  is  changed 
and  modernized;  the  old  chancel,  pulpit,  reading  desk,  clerk's 
pew,  galleries,  all  are  gone. 

In  the  fall  of  1775  Claggett  married  Mary  Gantt, 
his  first  cousin,  daughter  of  Edward  Gantt,  of  Calvert  County, 
his  mother's  brother.     This  proved  a  most  happy  and,  to  the 


EXPERIENCES  IN  COUNTRY  PARISHES  29 

bishop,  a  lifelong  union,  as  his  wife  survived  him  by  several 
years.  Six  children  were  born  to  them:  Thomas  John,  who 
became  a  physician;  Samuel,  an  attorney;  Mary,  who  married 
John  Eversfield  of  Matthew;  Charles  Nicholas,  who  died  in 
Baltimore  in  1832;  Elizabeth  Laura,  who  married  Josiah 
Young;  and  Priscilla  Elizabeth,  who  married  her  first  cousin. 
Colonel  John  Hamilton  Chew,  of  Calvert  County.  Of  the 
first  and  the  last  a  large  number  of  descendants  are  living. 
The  other  two  sons  died  single,  and  the  other  daughters 
without  children.  Claggett's  place  of  residence  while  in 
All  Saints'  Parish  was  in  the  town  of  Lower  Marlboro,  on 
the  Patuxent  River,  a  few  miles  west  from  his  church. 

Into  the  happiness  of  early  married  life  and  pleasant 
parochial  relations  the  war  cloud  of  the  Revolution  rudely 
broke.  Claggett  attempted  for  a  time  to  discharge  unaltered 
the  duties  of  his  office,  but  after  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence he  was  compelled  to  choose  whether  he  would  break 
his  ordination  vows,  or  whether  he  would  temporarily  go  into 
retirement  and  await  the  outcome  of  the  struggle.  There  is  no 
doubt  that  he  had  great  sympathy  with  the  cause  of  his 
countrymen,  and  had  he  not  been  bound  by  oaths  which  he 
felt  most  sacred,  he  very  likely  might  have  espoused  openly 
the  cause  of  freedom.  That  he  was  not  a  moral  coward  is 
plain  from  the  respect  he  continued  to  receive  from  his  par- 
ishioners, among  whom  were  very  few  Tories.  His  own 
family  and  that  of  his  wife's  were  Whigs.  It  is  most  evident 
that  his  people  understood  and  respected  his  delicate  position. 
White  and  Provoost  saw  their  way  clear  to  approve  and  aid 
the  revolutionary  cause;  Bass  and  Parker  remained  in  charge 
of  their  parishes,  and  clear  in  conscience,  by  omitting,  at  their 
vestries'  request,  prayers  for  the  king  and  the  royal  family, 
retaining  unchanged  the  remainder  of  the  liturgy;  Seabury 
and  Claggett,  no  less  true  to  the  dictates  of  conscience,  could 
not  forget  the  fact  that  in  their  solemn  ordination  they  had 


30         ,  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

sworn  allegiance  to  the  king  and  loyalty  to  the  British  gov- 
ernment. Writing  in  after  years  Claggett  referred  to  the 
Revolution  as  "a  glorious  cause",  and  we  can  not  but  feel 
that  he  was  very  truly  in  sympathy  with  his  brethren,  though 
his  sacred  calling  compelled  him  to  be  neutral. 

In  1776,  just  before  the  Declaration  of  Independence, 
there  were  forty-four  parishes  in  Maryland,  each  having  its 
rector,  and  some  a  curate.  On  the  establishment  of  the  state 
government,  the  Bill  of  Rights  deprived  the  clergy  of  their 
legal  support,  which  they  had  enjoyed  for  three  generations, 
and  a  period  of  very  indifferent  support  followed.^  Besides 
depriving  them  of  their  support,  an  oath  was  soon  after 
required,  which  none  of  them  felt  they  could  take  without 
violation  of  their  ordination  vows.  Under  these  restrictions 
nine  of  the  Maryland  clergy  gave  up  their  charges  and 
went  to  England,  six  went  to  Virginia,  one  to  Pennsylvania, 
one  to  Delaware,  one  to  private  life  in  Elkton,  one  to  his 
estate  in  Charles  County,  one  to  his  estate  in  Prince  George's 
County,  two  to  estates  elsewhere,  and  two  or  three  to  teaching. 
We  are  not  surprised  that  hard  times  followed  for  religion. 

In  consequence  of  the  war  Claggett  resigned  his  parish 
late  in  1776,  and  retired  to  his  estate  of  Croom,  where  he 
remained  in  retirement  for  two  years.  For  the  next  two  years 
he  officiated  in  his  home  parish  of  St.  Paul's,  Prince  George's 
Coimty,  and  was  elected  its  rector  on  the  7th  of  August, 
1780.  Here  he  remained  until  1786,  with  the  exception  of 
a  short  period,  about  1781,  as  rector  of  Christ  Church,  Queen 
Caroline  Parish,  Anne  Arundel  County.  Of  this  short  rec- 
torate  very  little  is  known.  In  1786  he  took  charge  of  the 
historic  old  parish  of  St.  James,  Anne  Arundel  County,  and 

^  It  is  said  that  when  Dr.  William  Smith  went  to  Chestertown,  on  the 
Eastern  Shore,  in  1780,  and  was  offered  the  rectorship  of  Chester  Parish, 
that,  as  a  compensation,  he  was  offered  no  money,  but  600  bushels  of  wheat, 
and  it  took  122  persons  to  agree  to  contribute  before  this  amount  could  be 
promised.     See  Smith,  Life  oj  Wm.  Smith,  v.  2,  p.  34, 


EXPERIENCES  IN  COUNTRY  PARISHES  31 

also  of  his  former  cure.  All  Saints',  Calvert  County,  which 
charges  he  held  until  his  election  to  the  episcopate.  After 
that  event  he  returned  to  Croom,  and  became,  in  addition  to 
his  episcopal  duties,  again  rector  of  St.  Paul's,  Prince 
George's  County.  In  1808,  failing  health  compelling  him  to 
resign  this  large  parish,  he  organized  the  little  church  at 
Upper  Marlboro,  near  his  home,  to  which  was  given  the  name 
of  Trinity  Church,  and  of  which  he  continued  to  be  the  rector 
the  rest  of  his  life.  In  his  later  years  he  twice  had  an 
assistant,  but  at  the  time  of  his  death  he  had  none. 

St.  James'  Parish  was  laid  out  in  1694^  in  accordance  with 
the  act  of  assembly  of  1692,  by  which  the  province  of  Mary- 
land was  divided  into  thirty  parishes.  There  had  been  a 
church  in  this  locality  for  a  decade  or  more  previous  to  that 
date,  known  as  Herring  Creek  Parish  church,  and  St.  James' 
from  that  day  to  this  has  been  known  as  Herring  Creek 
almost  as  much  as  by  its  legal  name,  so  long  does  it  take 
to  break  a  once  fastened  habit.  We  do  not  know  when  the 
original  church  was  built,  but  we  know  that  in  1695  it  was 
old  enough  to  need  repairs,  800  pounds  of  tobacco  being 
provided  to  defray  the  expenses.  In  the  same  year  a  con- 
tract was  awarded  for  a  new  church.  Why  they  gave  up  the 
old  we  do  not  know.  Dr.  Gambrall  suggests^  that  perhaps 
it  was  not  near  enough  to  the  center  of  the  parish,  or  not 
large  enough.  The  new  church  was  small  and  possessed  little 
architectural  merit  (as  few  of  the  colonial  churches  did  in 
the  country  districts),  but  it  was  substantially  built  and 
large  enough  to  accommodate  150  worshippers,  even  though 
they  were  seated  on  the  square  pew  arrangement.  As  the 
old  church  was  still  standing  the  people  took  their  time  in 
erecting  the  new;  hence  the  work  was  undoubtedly  better 
done  than  in  some  of  the  other  districts  where  no  previous 
edifice  had  existed.     Although  the  interior  was  severely  plain, 

1  Church  Life  in  Colonial  Maryland,  p.  68. 


32  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

according  to  our  standards,  it  acquired  many  tasteful  embel- 
lishments from  time  to  time  through  the  following  century, 
which  churches  in  less  favored  communities  did  not  secure. 
Thus  at  a  vestry  meeting  on  the  8th  of  August,  1791,  the 
rector.  Dr.  Claggett,  reported,  according  to  the  vestry  pro- 
ceedings, "that  the  Vestry  of  All  Saints  Parish  Calvert 
County  had  three  Yards  of  Purple  Broad  Cloth  for  sail  which 
he  thought  would  Suit  for  a  Communion  Cloth  and  Hangings 
for  the  Pulpit  in  this  Parish  Church  and  that  the  Price  of 
the  same  was  One  Guinea  P  Yard.  The  Vestry  Directed 
the  Docf  To  Purchase  the  same  and  Deliver  him  the  Money 
for  that  Purpose." 

Dr.  Claggett  (for  he  became  a  Doctor  of  Divinity  by 
vote  of  his  Alma  Mater,  Princeton  College  in  1787^)  became 
rector  of  St.  James'  Parish  in  1786  and  continued  as  such 
until  his  election  to  the  episcopate  in  1792.  From  a  vestry 
meeting  of  July  25th,  1786,  we  copy  the  following:  "At  a  Ves- 
try met  and  held  in  the  Vestry  Room  of  the  said  Parish  by  the 
Vestrymen  thereunto  legally  authorized  and  appointed  on 
the  day  and  year  above  written,  present:  Col.  John  Weems, 
John  Hall,  Ezekiel  Gott,  Richard  Harrison,  Benjamin  Bur- 
gess, Cap*  William  Weems,  and  Zachariah  Childs,  Church 
Warden — The  Reverend  Doct'  Thomas  John  Clagett  appears 
and  agrees  to  Officiate  in  the  aforesaid  Parish  Church  every 
other  Sabbath,  and  to  perform  all  the  accustomed  duties  of 
the  said  parish  for  three  years  unless  prevented  by  sickness 
or  any  other  unforeseen  Casualty."  Claggett  was  also,  as  we 
have  seen  on  a  preceding  page,  rector  at  this  time  of  All 
Saints'  Parish,  Calvert  County.  For  these  services  the  vestry 
bargained  to  give  him  the  free  use  and  enjoyment  of  all  and 
every  glebe  and  their  appurtenances,  the  exclusive  right  to 
the  pulpit  in  the  parish  church,  and  all  other  privileges  and 
advantages  which  the  minister  of  the  parish  ought  to  enjoy. 

^  He  also  received  the  degree  of  D.  D.  from  Washington  College  in  1792. 


EXPERIENCES  IN  COUNTRY  PARISHES  33 

This  agreement  was  to  be  in  force  for  the  three  years  begin- 
ning the  1st  of  August,  1786.  In  the  parish  records  Clag- 
gett's  own  signature  is  appended  to  this  agreement. 

The  first  mention  of  Claggett  in  the  parish  vestry  pro- 
ceedings is  in  the  record  of  the  vestry  meeting  of  "Saint 
Jamses"  on  Sunday,  the  2nd  of  July,  1786,  when  it  was 
"Order'd  That  the  Register  Write  to  the  Rev'd  Docf  Thomas 
Cleget  to  inform  him  that  the  Vestry  have  made  up  the  Sallery 
Requested  and  Desire  he  will  attend  the  church  on  Sunday 
the  Ninth  of  this  Inst."  This  entry  seems  to  imply  some 
previous  action  but  none  can  be  found  in  the  proceedings 
of  the  vestry.  His  predecessor  was  the  Rev.  Walter  Magow- 
an,  a  native  of  Ireland,  who  was  ordained  in  1768,  and 
became  the  incumbent  of  St.  James'  the  following  year,  where 
he  remained  until  his  death  in  1786. 

In  the  diocesan  convention  which  met  in  Baltimore-Town 
May  27-29j,  1788,  it  was  moved  on  the  last  day  just  before 
final  adjournment,  by  James  Tilghman,  lay  delegate  from 
Chester  Parish,  Kent  County,  "that  the  several  Vestries  be 
requested  to  transmit  to  the  next  Convention  an  account  of 
the  Glebe  lands  (if  any)  or  other  property  belonging  to  the 
respective  parishes,  with  the  quantity  and  condition  of  the 
same,  and  the  annual  amount  of  the  rents."  In  compliance 
with  this  motion,  which  was  carried,  the  vestry  of  St.  James' 
furnished  the  following  statement,  which  is  spread  on  the 
parish  records,  and  which  gives  one  a  very  fair  idea  of  the 
state  of  that  parish  during  Dr.   Claggett's  rectorate. 

"The  Vestry  taking  the  Same  into  Consideration  Beg  Leave 
to  Report  to  the  Convention  that  there  is  One  Glebe  Adjoining 
to  the  Town  of  Pigg-point  Containing  about  Six  hundred 
Acres  of  Land  a  Donation  to  the  Parish  by  Nicholas  Terret 
Esq'  of  the  Annual  Value  of  About  four  Thousand  Poimds 
of  Merchantable  Tobacco,  or  Sixty  Pounds  hard  money  and 
One  Other  Glebe  adjoining  the  Church  a  Donation  thereto 


34  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

by  Nathan  Rigby  Containing  One  Hundred  Acres  of  Land 
with  a  Dwelling  House  on  it  of  the  Annual  Value  of  Two 
Thousand  Pounds  of  Crop  Tobacco  or  Thirty  Pounds  Current 
Money,  a  Brick  Church  in  good  Repair  and  a  grave  Yard 
much  out  of  repair.  We  have  also  a  Parish  Library  many 
of  the  Books  Distributed  about  the  Parish  and  Likely  to  be 
lost.^  A  Sufficient  Quality  of  Good  Church  Plate  Consisting 
of  One  Gallon  Silver  Flaggon  in  good  Order  One  Quart 
Challace  One  Large  Silver  Oval  Dish  and  One  Three  Pint 
Silver  Basin  for  the  font  all  in  good  Order."  At  a  meeting 
of  the  vestry  September  7th,  1789,  it  was  "Order'd  that  the 
Regest'  Advertise  for  all  Persons  who  have  any  Books  Be- 
longing to  the  Vestry  of  St.  James'  Parish  to  Bring  them 
in  to  the  Vestry  of  S"^  Parish  without  delay." 

At  a  vestry  meeting  held  on  the  6th  of  February,  1790, 
we  read: 

"The  Rev*^  M'  Clegett  appear'd  and  agreed  to  serve  the 
Parish  for  one  year  Commencing  the  first  Day  of  August 
last  for  the  sum  of  One  Hundred  and  Fifty  Pounds  Current 
money  he  the  said  Clegett  having  the  Previledge  of  Imploying 
some  Minister  of  the  Protestine  (sic)  Episcopal  Church  to 
be  approved  of  By  this  Vestry  to  Officiate  in  this  Church 
Every  other  Sunday  as  soon  as  such  minister  Can  Be  had 
but  in  as  much  as  the  said  Sum  is  not  yet  Subscribed  the  said 
Clegett  agrees  to  take  the  Subscription  that  is  already  made 
up  as  a  Compensation  for  his  this  years  Services  and  the 
Vestry  Promise  to  use  their  Indeavors  to  Increase  it  for  him 
to  the  amount  above  mentioned  if  in  their  Power — on  these 
Terms  the  Vestry  nominate  and  appoint  him  the  said  Clegett 
D.  D.  Rector  of  this  Parish  for  this  year  ending  the  first  day 
of  August  next  and  give  him  all  Priveleges  Immunities  and 
advantages  Express'd  in  a  former  agreement  on  the  Records. 

^  For  a  catalog  of  these  books,  which  was  entered  in  the  parish  vestry 
proceedings,  see,  Gambrall,  Church  Life  in  Colonial  Maryland,  pp.  104-111. 


EXPERIENCES  IN  COUNTRY  PARISHES  35 

"Provided  that  the  several  Gentilmen  who  have  taken  sub- 
scriptions Deliver  them  to  the  Rev*^  Tho'  John  Clagett  and 
that  the  Regester  Assign  them  to  him.  The  Vestry  request 
the  Rector  to  imploy  M''  McPherson  to  read  Devine  Service 
and  a  Homily  or  Sermon  to  the  Peopple  every  other  Sunday 
until  some  Ordained  Minister  can  Be  Obtained." 

This  is  a  fair  example  of  the  quaint  form  of  contract  by 
which  the  Maryland  vestries  engaged  their  rectors  from  time 
to  time.  The  more  picturesque  than  satisfactory  manner  in 
which  the  rector  was  sometimes  paid  is  shown  in  the  following 
extract  from  the  parish  records. 

Maryland  St  Jamses  Parish 

Novb'  15th  1779 

Whereas  no  act  has  hitherto  been  made  for  the  Support 
of  the  Clergy  of  the  Church  of  England  by  the  Legislature 
of  this  State  we  the  Subscribers  do  therefore  bind  and  Oblidge 
Ourselves  our  Heirs  Executors  or  Administrators  to  Pay  unto 
the  Vestry  of  the  Afs^  Parish  or  their  Order  the  Sum  of 
Money  or  Quantity  of  Tobacco  Wheat  Corn  Rye  Oats  Peas  or 
Beans  Annexed  to  our  Respective  Names  on  or  before  the 
first  Day  of  Decb',  1780  to  be  applied  by  S^  Vestry  towards 
Imploying  a  Clergyman  to  officiate  in  S*^  Parish  for  one  year 
from  the  Date  hereof  and  to  Defray  other  necessary  Ex- 
pences  of  Said  Parish. 

(Subscribed  to  by  68  names.) 

A  list  of  communicants  at  the  parish  church  on  Easter 
Sunday,  April  4,  1790,  is  given  in  the  book  of  vestry  pro- 
ceedings. There  are  48  whites  and  13  negroes,  total  6l.  Of 
the  48  whites  11  are  males  and  37  are  females.  So  it  would 
seem  that  the  lament  of  our  bishops  and  other  clergy  regard- 
ing the  unequal  proportion  of  the  sexes  on  the  parish  register 
and  confirmation  rolls  may  have  been  sounded  also  by  some 
of  their  worthy  predecessors.     The  list  of  "Black  Brethren 


36  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

Communicants"  include  "George"  and  "Rhemus"  "servants 
to  Tho'  J.  Claggett."  The  attitude  of  this  parish  towards  the 
colored  people  is  further  shown  in  the  following  extract  from 
the  vestry  proceedings  of  February  7th,  1791. 

"On  application  of  Robert  a  Black  man  servant  to  Mr. 
John  Thomas  on  behalf  of  himself  and  the  rest  of  the  Black 
Communicants  in  this  Parish  for  a  Piece  of  Ground  on  the 
Church  Glebe  adjoining  the  North  East  Corner  of  the  Church 
Yard  no  more  than  Sixty  feet  Square  for  a  Burying  Ground 
for  the  said  Blacks  and  their  Descendants — Resolved  that  the 
said  Ground  be  Appropriated  to  that  Purpose  Provided  they 
Rail  it  in  at  their  Own  Cost  and  Charges  as  they  Purpose." 

The  following  letter  not  only  reminds  us  that  Claggett 
lived  in  a  slaveholding  community  but  that  he  himself  was 
probably  a  slaveholder. 

THE  REV.  JOSEPH  JACKSON  TO  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

Westphalia,  Thursday  Night,  7th  Jan'y  '96. 
Right  Rev°  &  Dear  Sir, 

Major  John  Burgess  has  acquainted  me,  that  through  Mr. 
Bradley  Baynes,  he  some  little  Time  ago  had  some  Proposal 
from  you  respecting  Mrs.  M.  Burgess's  Negro  Fellow  Ned. 
At  least  had  learned  that  you  had  some  Thoughts  of  purchas- 
ing him.  He,  as  well  as  Mrs.  B.  have  requested  me  to  write 
to  you  upon  the  Subject. 

I  remember  to  have  mentioned  the  fellow  to  you  incidentally 
once  before.  What  I  might  then  say,  added  to  what  you 
will  have  learned  from  others  respecting  him,  may  leave  it 
unnecessary  now  to  give  you  his  Character.  I  think  this  but 
due,  however,  to  the  Opinion  I  have  entertained  of  him,  since 
he  became  known  to  me:  that  I  observe  him  to  have  borne  the 
Character  of  an  honest,  industrious,  good-tempered  Slave,  & 
that  he  has  ever  appeared  such  to  me.  His  age  is  not  certainly 
known,  but  if  it  exceeds  30  (Mrs.  B.  says  it  exceeds  not  25 


EXPERIENCES  IN  COUNTRY  PARISHES  37 

or  26)  at  all,  'tis  believed  not  to  be  by  more  than  one  year 
or  two. 

The  principal  Reason  of  my  writing  is,  that  we  might  be- 
come apprized  whether  the  Terms  at  which  he  is  offered  meet 
your  Approbation.  The  Major  told  me  today,  that  the  Terms 
were,  for  this  Man  and  a  son  of  his  about  5  or  6  years  of 
age,  £125,  upon  a  6  Month's  Credit;  or  <£120  ready  Money. 
Should  the  boy  be  parted  from  his  Father  (which  it  is  desired 
he  should  not  be),  a  Deduction  of  about  £25  will  be  made 
upon  his  Account.  Should  you,  though,  be  inclined  to  pur- 
chase the  Man,  &  to  have  him  by  himself,  I  can  venture  to 
say,  that  you  might  obtain  him  with  that  Deduction,  i.e.  at 
\£100  upon  Credit,  or  at  £95  for  ready  Money.  And,  might 
I  add  my  Opinion,  it  should  be  that,  as  Slaves  are  now  com- 
monly sold,  he  would  be  very  cheap.  Your  Determination 
will  be  expected  by  the  return  of  the  Bearer. 

Your  obliged  &  obed'  Serv' 

Joseph  Jackson. 


CHAPTER    IV 

ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  MARYLAND  CHURCH 

On  the  9th  of  November,  1780,  the  first  convention  of  the 
Maryland  clergy  and  laity  was  held  at  Chestertown,  on  the 
Eastern  Shore.  There  were  only  three  clergymen  present. 
In  a  letter  of  May  10,  1810,  the  Rev.  James  Jones  Wilmer,  then 
chaplain  in  the  United  States  Senate,  wrote  to  Bishop  Clag- 
gett,  "I  am  one  of  the  three  who  first  organized  the  Episcopal 
Church  during  the  Revolution,  and  am  consequently  one  of 
the  primary  aids  to  its  consolidation  throughout  the  United 
States.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Smith,  Dr.  Keene  and  myself  held 
the  frst  convention  at  Chestertown,  and  I  acted  as  secretary." 
In  this  convention  of  1780,  besides  the  three  clergymen,  there 
were  24  lay  delegates,  representing  five  parishes,  all  on  the 
Eastern  Shore. 

The  country  was  still  in  the  throes  of  war,  and  activities 
were  largely  paralyzed.  Since  the  opening  of  hostilities  the 
population  of  Maryland  had  decreased  greatly.  Money  was 
exceedingly  scarce,  only  ,£200,000  being  estimated  in  circula- 
tion in  the  state;  many  of  her  prominent  men  were  in  the 
field,  a  number  had  lost  their  lives  in  the  contest,  and  several 
had  fled  to  England  or  to  Canada  rather  than  take  arms 
against  their  king. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  the  Revolution,  in  1783,  the  legis- 
lature of  Maryland  took  up  the  subject  of  organizing  the 
Episcopal  Church,  and  particularly  of  appointing  ordainers 
to  the  ministry,  although  the  state  legislature  was  composed 
of  men  of  many  different  religious  denominations.  This 
scheme  very  naturally  received  the  opposition  of  all  level- 
headed and  farseeing  Churchmen,  their  spokesman  and  most 

38 


ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  MARYLAND  CHURCH    39 

valiant  worker  in  the  cause  being  the  Rev.  Samuel  Keene, 
vi^ho,  by  personal  efforts  before  the  legislature,  persuaded 
that  body  to  abandon  the  project.  However  much  in  need 
of  organization  they  might  be  they  did  not  wish  the  work 
done  by  the  state  legislature,  for  Churchmen  clearly  saw  that 
if  these  plans  were  adopted  soon  there  would  be  no  Episcopal 
Church. 

The  subject  of  religion  was  next  brought  to  the  state 
assembly  by  Gov.  William  Paca,  at  the  session  of  May,  1783. 
Advocating  perfect  impartiality  to  all  Christian  denominations 
he  begged  the  legislature  to  consider  the  matter  of  the  sup- 
port of  the  Christian  ministry. 

"It  is  far  from  our  Intention,"  he  writes,  "to  embarrass 
your  Deliberations  with  a  variety  of  Objects,  but  we  cannot 
pass  over  Matters  of  so  high  concernment  as  Religion  and 
Learning.  The  sufferings  of  the  Ministers  of  the  Gospel  of 
all  Denominations,  during  the  War,  have  been  very  consider- 
able; and  the  Perseverance  and  Firmness  of  those,  who  dis- 
charged their  sacred  Functions  under  many  discouraging 
Circumstances,  claim  our  Acknowledgments  and  Thanks. 
The  Bill  of  Rights  and  Form  of  Government  recognize  the 
Principle  of  Public  Support  for  the  Ministers  of  the  Gospel, 
and  ascertain  the  mode.  Anxiously  solicitous  for  the  Bless- 
ings of  Government,  and  the  Welfare  and  Happiness  of  our 
Citizens,  and  thoroughly  convinced  of  the  powerful  Influence 
of  Religion,  when  diffused  by  its  respectable  Teachers,  we 
beg  leave  most  seriously  and  warmly  to  recommend,  among 
the  first  objects  of  your  attention,  on  the  Return  of  Peace,  the 
making  such  Provision,  as  the  Constitution,  in  this  Case,  au- 
thorizes and  approves."^ 

About  a  week  after  this  address  was  made  public.  May  12- 
15,  a  considerable  number  of  the  Episcopal  clergy  chanced  to 
be  met  together  at  the  first  annual  commencement  of  Wash- 

^  Address  to  the  Members,  etc..  Bait.,  1784. 


40  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

ington  College,  in  Chestertown.  They  seized  this  opportunity 
to  hold  a  convention,  in  which  they  heartily  agreed  that,  inas- 
much as  the  governor  of  the  state  was  thus  working  for  the 
interests  of  religion,  they  ought,  as  soon  as  possible,  to  hold  a 
council,  or  convention,  and  consider  the  revision  or  readjusting 
of  the  liturgy  to  suit  local  circumstances  and  changed  politi- 
cal conditions,  the  means  for  organizing  the  Church  in  their 
state,  and  how  a  succession  of  the  ministry  might  be  main- 
tained. Accordingly,  they  adjourned  to  meet  at  Annapolis, 
Wednesday,  August  13th,  of  the  same  year  (1783).  At  this 
convention  a  committee  was  appointed  "to  prepare  the  Draft 
of  an  Act  or  Charter  of  Incorporation,  to  enable  the  Episcopal 
Church  of  this  State,  as  a  Body  Corporate,  to  hold  Goods, 
Lands  and  Chattels,  by  Deed,  Gift,  Devise,  &c.,  to  the 
amount  of  *  *  *  per  annum,  as  a  Fund  for  providing  small 
Annuities  to  the  Widows  of  Clergymen,  and  for  the  Education 
of  their  Children,  or  any  poor  Children  in  general,  who  may 
be  found  of  promising  Genius  and  Disposition,  for  a  Supply 
of  Ministers  in  the  said  Church,  and  for  other  pious  and 
charitable  Uses." 

This  committee,  which  seems  to  have  constituted  the  ecclesi- 
astical authority  of  the  diocese  of  Maryland,  was  composed 
of  three  clergymen  from  each  shore  who  were  appointed  "to 
examine  such  young  Gentlemen  as  may  offer  themselves  Can- 
didates for  Holy  Orders  in  our  Church  .  .  .  and  to  recom- 
mend such  Candidates  as  may  be  thought  worthy  to  serve  as 
Readers  in  any  Parishes  that  may  think  proper  to  employ 
them."  This  arrangement  was  to  hold  "until  a  regular  Or- 
dination of  Clergy  could  be  Obtained."  This  clerical  com- 
mittee consisted  of  William  Smith,  John  Gordon  and  Samuel 
Keene,  for  the  Eastern  Shore,  and  William  West,  Thomas 
John  Claggett  and  Thomas  Gates,  for  the  Western  Shore. 

At  this  convention  the  clergy,  feeling  it  necessary  to  devise 
some  means  for  the  succession  of  the  Ministry,  drew  up  that 


ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  MARYLAND  CHURCH    41 

document  so  well  known  in  the  history  of  the  Church,  called 
"the  Bill  of  Rights,"  or  "the  Declaration  of  Certain  Funda- 
mental Rights  &  Liberties."  In  this  instrument,  too  familiar 
to  need  reprinting  in  full  here,^  the  clergy  expressed  their  be- 
lief "that  there  be  these  three  Orders  of  Ministers  in  Christ's 
Church,  Bishops,  Priests  and  Deacons,  and  that  an  Episcopal 
Ordination  and  Commission  are  necessary  to  the  valid  Admin- 
istration of  the  Sacraments,  and  the  due  Exercise  of  the 
Ministerial  Functions  in  the  said  Church." 

Continuing,  the  convention  stated  its  belief  that,  without 
questioning  the  rights,  modes  and  forms  of  any  other  Christian 
bodies,  it  was  their  right  "to  have  and  enjoy  the  Continuance 
of  the  said  three  Orders  of  Ministers  forever,  so  far  as  con- 
cerns matters  purely  spiritual;  and  that  no  Persons,  in  the 
Character  of  Ministers,  except  such  as  are  in  the  Communion 
of  the  said  Church,  and  duly  called  to  the  Ministry  by  regular 
Episcopal  Ordination,  can  or  ought  to  be  admitted  into,  or 
enjoy  any  of  the  Churches,  Chapels,  Glebes,  or  other  Prop- 
erty, formerly  belonging  to  the  Church  of  England  in  the 
State,  and  which  by  the  Constitution  and  Form  of  Govern- 
ment is  secured  to  the  said  Church  forever,  by  whatsoever 
Name,  she  the  said  Church,  or  her  superior  Order  of  Minis- 
ters, may  in  future  be  denominated." 

In  regard  to  the  liturgy,  they  recognized  the  necessity  of 
adapting  it  to  the  late  revolution,  but  expressed  the  hope  that 
this  "may  and  will  be  done,  without  any  other  or  farther 
Departure  from  the  Venerable  Order  and  beautiful  Forms  of 
Worship  of  the  Church  from  whence  we  sprung,  than  may  be 
found  expedient  in  the  Change  of  our  Situation  from  a 
DAUGHTER  to  a  SISTER-CHURCH." 

That  which  makes  this  declaration  of  the  most  historic 
significance  is  the  light  it  throws  upon  the  views  held  by  the 
members  of  the  Maryland  Church  in  relation  to  the  Church 

^  See  Perry,  History  of  the  American  Ejnscopal  Church,  v.  2,  p.  3-5. 


42  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

in  neighboring  states  and  communities.  "We  the  Clergy  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  Maryland  .  .  .  consider 
it  as  the  undoubted  Right  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church, 
in  common  with  other  Christian  Churches  under  the  American 
Revolution,  to  compleat  and  preserve  herself  as  an  entire 
Church,  agreeably  to  her  ancient  Usages  and  Profession,  and 
to  have  the  full  Enjoyment  and  free  Exercise  of  those  purely 
spiritual  Powers,  which  are  essential  to  the  Being  of  every 
Church  or  Congregation  of  the  faithful,  and  which,  being 
derived  only  from  Christ  and  his  Apostles,  are  to  be  main- 
tained independent  of  every  foreign  or  other  Jurisdiction,  so 
far  as  may  be  consistent  with  the  civil  Rights  of  Society." 

This  declaration  was  signed  by  all  the  clergy  present, 
fifteen  in  all.  Dr.  Claggett  being  one  of  that  number.  On 
Jime  23rd,  1784,  three  more  signed  the  paper.  It  is  believed 
that-  this  is  the  first  instance  in  which  the  name  Protestant 
Episcopal  was  ofiicially  used. 

The  fear  of  a  political  episcopate  was  strongly  shown  in 
the  report  of  the  clergy  and  lay  members  who  were  appointed 
at  the  convention  of  1784  to  draw  up  a  plan  of  ecclesiastical 
government  for  the  Church  in  Maryland,  and  to  define  therein 
the  duties  of  bishops,  priests  and  deacons  in  matters  spiritual. 
"According  to  what  we  conceive  to  be  of  true  Apostolic  In- 
stitution," reads  the  report,  "the  Duty  and  Office  of  a  Bishop 
differs  in  nothing  from  that  of  other  Priests,  except  in  the 
Power  of  Ordination  and  Confirmation,  and  in  the  Right  of 
Precedency  in  ecclesiastical  Meetings  or  Synods,  and  shall  ac- 
cordingly be  so  exercised  in  this  Church;  the  Duty  and  Office 
of  Priests  and  Deacons  to  remain  as  heretofore."  And  then, 
apparently  with  an  eye  to  the  future,  was  added,  "And  if  any, 
further  Distinctions  and  Regulations  in  the  Different  Orders 
of  the  Ministry  should  afterwards  be  found  necessary  for 
the  good  Government  of  the  Church,  the  same  shall  be  made 
and  established  by  the  joint  Voice  and  Authority  of  a  Repre- 


ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  MARYLAND  CHURCH    43 

sentative  Body  of  the  Clergy  and  Laity,  at  future  ecclesiasti- 
cal Synods  or  Conventions." 

Many  of  those  who  were  bitterly  opposed  to  a  resident 
episcopacy  because  they  did  not  approve  of  the  complications 
of  Church  and  State  as  exhibited  in  the  English  prelacy,  had 
no  objections  to  a  purely  spiritual  episcopate.  Thus,  the 
Rev.  Hugh  Neill,  who  was  a  warm  friend  of  American 
episcopacy,  wrote  in  one  of  his  letters  to  the  venerable  Society 
for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel,  "The  Rev.  Dr.  Allison, 
Vice  Provost  of  the  College  of  Philadelphia,  and  who  is  at 
the  head  of  the  Presbyterians  in  the  Province,  assured  me  the 
other  day,  in  a  conversation  upon  the  subject,  that  they  had 
no  objection  to  what  he  called  Primitive  Episcopacy,  that  is, 
Episcopacy  without  any  civil  power  annexed  to  it,  as  he 
explained  himself;  and  that  he  would  be  well  contented  if 
there  was  a  Bishop  of  this  sort  in  every  Province  in 
America."^ 

At  the  convention  in  1783,  the  Rev.  Dr.  William  Smith  was 
elected  Bishop  of  Maryland.  Dr.  Smith  at  that  time  was  the 
dominating  clerical  figure  in  the  state,  and  if  a  bishop  were 
to  be  chosen  then  it  was  most  evident  that  he  was  the  logical 
candidate.  Concerning  this  action  Dr.  Claggett  wrote  to  his 
intimate  friend,  the  Rev.  William  Duke,  then  a  Methodist 
preacher,  afterwards  a  clergymen  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 

TO  WILLIAM  DUKE. 

Sat.  Sept.  20,  1783. 
Dear  Sir, 

I  received  your  Letter  of  the  14th  of  August  just  one 
Month  after  date,  &  I  take  this  earliest  Opportunity  to  inform 
you  of  it,  lest  you  should  think  that  my  inactivity  has  got  y' 
better  of  my  respect  for  you.  I  have  seen  S'  Robert  Eden; 
but    from   him   could   learn   little  y*  was   interesting   to   our 

^  Sprague,  Annals;  Episcopalian,  p.  159. 


44  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

Church,  nor  indeed  did  I  expect  any  Thing  of  that  Nature. 
I  suppose  you  have  long  ago  heard  that  y®  Clergy  of  y* 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  met  last  month  at  Annapolis; 
and  that  we  formed  a  Bill  of  Rights;  chose  Dr.  Smith  to  go 
to  Europe  to  be  ordained  an  antistes.  President  of  y®  Clergy, 
or  Bishop  (if  that  name  does  not  hurt  your  feelings).  He 
will  probably  be  back  some  Time  next  Spring;  in  y*  mean 
Time,  we  have  appointed  three  of  y®  Clergy  on  each  shore  to 
licence  Candidates  for  Holy  Orders  in  our  Church  to  act  as 
Readers  in  y*  different  vacant  Parishes,  Smith,  Gorden,  Keene, 
for  Eastern  Shore;  Gates,  West  and  your  Humb.  Serv*  are  to 
negotiate  this  Business  on  y*  Western  Shore — I  should  be  glad 
to  send  you  a  copy  of  some  of  y®  parts  of  our  Proceedings, 
but  as  I  write  this  at  a  friends  House  in  U.  Marlbro  I  can 
not  take  time  for  that  Purpose  now — Mr.  Edw*^  Gantt  I  be- 
lieve intends  to  decline  his  voyage  to  Europe  &  is  at  present 
at  Mr.  Calvert's  he  will  (I  believe)  wait  y*  event  of  Dr. 
Smith's  Mission. 

Yours  affectionately, 

Tho®  Jn°  Claggett. 

William  Smith,  the  new  bishop-elect,  was  born  in  Aberdeen, 
Scotland,  about  1727,  and  came  to  America  when  twenty-three 
years  old,  engaging  himself  as  a  private  tutor  in  the  family 
of  Governor  Martin  on  Long  Island.  In  1753,  when  he  had 
been  in  this  country  about  three  years,  he  was  offered  the 
charge  of  the  seminary  in  Philadelphia,  which  afterwards 
grew  into  the  University  of  Pennsylvania.  He  accepted,  but 
first  went  to  England  for  holy  orders.  He  remained  in 
Philadelphia  engaged  in  this  work  until  1779:,  when  the 
charter  of  the  college  was  withdrawn,  whereupon  he  removed 
to  Chestertown,  Maryland,  becoming  rector  of  the  local  parish 
and  instituting  a  seminary,  which  immediately  met  with  marked 
success,  having  140  pupils  the  second  year.     In  June,  1782, 


ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  MARYLAND  CHURCH    45 

the  school  was  chartered  by  the  General  Assembly  as  a  college, 
and  Dr.  Smith  became  its  first  president.  It  received  the 
name  of  Washington  College,  after  George  Washington,  who 
was  the  president  of  the  board  of  trustees,  others  on  the  board 
being  William  Paca,  governor  of  Maryland,  Samuel  Chase, 
signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  Dr.  Smith,  Robert 
Goldsborough,  and  other  men  prominent  in  Maryland  affairs, 
all  of  which  shows  the  high  standing  of  the  young  institution. 

In  1789  the  charter  of  the  Pennsylvania  college  was  re- 
stored, and  Dr.  Smith  returned  to  his  former  work.  He  died 
in  Philadephia  on  the  14th  of  May,  1803,  in  his  76th  year. 
There  is  no  question  that  he  was  one  of  the  most  learned  men 
of  his  time  in  America.  He  received  the  doctorate  in  divinity 
from  Oxford,  Aberdeen,  and  Trinity  College,  Dublin.  He 
was  always  a  member  of  the  General  Convention  and  generally 
its  president.  From  1783  to  the  end  of  his  residence  in  Mary- 
land he  was  president  of  the  diocesan  church  conventions  and 
one  of  the  examiners  of  candidates  for  holy  orders.  He  was 
a  preacher  of  wide  reputation,  noted  for  his  many  occasional 
sermons,  many  of  which  have  been  published.  He  preached 
the  sermon  at  the  consecration  of  Bishop  Claggett,  in  Christ 
Church,  New  York,  September  17,  1792.  He  was  on  the 
committee  with  Bishop  White  (that  is,  afterwards  Bishop) 
and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wharton,  of  Delaware,  appointed  in  1785 
to  revise  the  prayer  book  to  meet  the  needs  of  the  American 
Church,  and  Dr.  Smith  is  said  to  have  been  the  chief  factor 
in  the  compilation  of  that  unsatisfactory  and  unacceptible 
liturgy. 

As  to  his  character  and  the  reasons  why  he  was  never  con- 
secrated a  bishop.  Dr.  Tiffany  has  given  us  a  singularly  un- 
biased and  enlightening  summary.  "From  what  has  appeared 
of  Dr.  Smith's  characteristics  it  is  not  strange  that  with  his 
learning,  his  natural  powers,  and  his  financial  success  in 
establishing  his  college,  he  should  have  been  the  instant  and 


46  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

unanimous  choice  of  the  eighteen  Maryland  clergymen  for 
their  first  bishop.  A  man  of  such  distinction  at  home  and 
abroad  at  once  towered  above  all  local  celebrities.  It  is  not 
strange,  either,  that  he  should  have  had  opponents  as  well  in 
those  less  dominated  by  his  inspiring  personality.  The  laity 
were  not  so  enthusiastic  as  the  clergy  who  elected  him.  Many 
were  strongly  opposed  to  there  being  at  that  time  any  bishop 
in  Maryland.  Even  among  his  warm  personal  friends  there 
were  those  who  disapproved  of  his  election.  Dr.  White  after- 
wards opposed  its  confirmation,  not  giving  his  reasons;  but  it 
is  known  that  they  were  based  on  an  estimate  of  his  character. 
That  character  was  generous,  but  not  prudent.  There  was  a 
secularity  in  his  manner  and  tone  of  thought  which  savored 
more  of  worldly  wisdom  than  of  devout  consecration.  He  was 
convivial,  and  may  have  at  times  lapsed  into  impropriety.  The 
temporal  rather  than  the  spiritual  concerns  of  the  church 
engrossed  his  attention.  In  controversy,  to  which  he  was 
prone,  the  old  Adam  often  got  the  better  of  the  young 
Melanchthon.  He  was  not,  however,  self-seeking.  The  op- 
position which  he  made  to  Dr.  Seabury's  consecration  by  the 
non-juring  bishops,  if  it  had  any  personal  element,  was  also 
caused  by  the  fear  that  such  a  procedure  would  shut  the  door 
to  the  application  for  the  English  succession.  This  result 
would  have  greatly  diminished  the  prestige  of  the  national 
church,  and  given  it  a  provincial  aspect  and  character,  mark- 
ing it  as  distinct  from  the  English  Church,  rather  than  as 
its  legitimate  successor.  Dr.  Smith  may  himself  have  been 
convinced  of  the  inappropriateness  of  his  own  election  to  the 
episcopate.  Certain  it  is  that  he  never  applied  for  consecra- 
tion in  England,  though  his  election  and  testimonials  from  his 
state  were  above  suspicion.  When  his  election  was  not  con- 
firmed by  the  General  Convention  which  gave  its  imprimatur 
to  White  and  Provoost  and  Griffith,  his  disappointment  did 
not  sour  him.     He  continued  to  be  one  of  the  indefatigable 


ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  MARYLAND  CHURCH    47 

workers  in  the  construction  of  the  ecclesiastical  organization 
in  which  he  was  not  to  be  a  chief  officer.  He  was  a  co-laborer 
with  White  in  all  his  efforts,  and  preserved  a  steadfast  friend- 
ship for  him,  notwithstanding  his  opposition  to  his  own  con- 
secration. Prejudiced  at  first  against  Seabury,  both  on  ac- 
count of  his  ecclesiastical  views  and  his  Scotch  consecration,  he 
was  the  chief  mover  in  the  measures  which  recognized  the 
validity  of  his  consecration  and  brought  him  into  union  with 
the  General  Convention.  But  both  his  good  qualities  and  his 
defects  were  such  as  wisely  to  exclude  him  from  the 
episcopate."^ 

Smith  retained  his  prominence  in  Maryland  ecclesiastical 
affairs  and  his  apparent  popularity  with  both  clergy  and 
laity  as  long  as  he  resided  in  that  state,  but,  whatever  the 
cause  may  have  been,  it  remains  a  fact  that  he  never  made  any 
attempt  to  secure  episcopal  consecration,  although  his  creden- 
tials were  undoubtedly  beyond  dispute.  Dr.  Claggett  during 
these  years  was  steadily  rising  in  influence  and  in  the  respect 
of  his  fellow  men,  but  while  Dr.  Smith  remained  in  the  state 
the  latter  was  always  the  star  of  first  magnitude,  though  it 
is  much  to  be  doubted  whether  he  had  the  nobility  of  character 
and  the  geniality  of  disposition  that  the  kindly  Dr.  Claggett 
possessed  to  such  a  remarkable  degree.  Claggett  was  without 
doubt  a  strong  force  in  the  organization  of  the  Episcopal 
Church  in  Maryland,  much  stronger  than  the  appearance  of 
his  name  on  the  public  proceedings  of  the  conventions  would 
indicate,  for  throughout  his  long  life  he  was  retiring  in 
nature,  much  preferring  to  exert  his  influence  in  a  quiet  per- 
sonal way  than  by  public  demonstration.  Beginning  with  the 
earliest  conventions  of  which  we  have  record  he  was  nearly 
always  present.  He  was  on  the  standing  committee  each 
year  after  1788,  and  on  the  so-called  superintending  com- 
mittee in  1783  and  perhaps  in  other  years.     He  was  president 

1  Hist,  of  the  Prot.  Ejns.  Ch..  1899,  p.  310-12. 


48  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

of  the  diocesan  convention  in  1791  and  1792,  at  which  latter 
convention  he  was  elected  bishop.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the 
General  Convention  of  1789,  held  in  Christ  Church,  Phila- 
delphia. 

The  General  Convention  of  1785  had  taken  into  serious 
consideration  the  alteration  of  the  English  Book  of  Common 
Prayer  to  meet  the  needs  of  the  American  Church,  certain 
changes  very  naturally  being  necessary  because  of  the  polit- 
ical revolution.  The  convention  found  the  task  of  alteration 
too  serious  a  one  to  be  lightly  decided,  and  so  a  committee  con- 
sisting of  the  Rev.  Messrs  Smith,  White  and  Wharton  were, 
as  stated  above,  appointed  to  publish  the  Book  of  Common 
Prayer  with  the  alterations  proposed.  Dr.  White  was  much 
engaged  with  the  framing  of  the  constitution  and  did  little 
work  on  the  proposed  liturgy.  Dr.  Smith  being  the  most  active 
member  of  the  committee.  A  large  edition  of  the  "Proposed 
Book"  made  its  appearance  on  the  first  of  April,  1786,  and 
was  pretty  widely  distributed  among  the  various  churches  of 
the  states.  But  it  was  a  stupendous  failure  from  the  first. 
None  of  the  diocesan  conventions  approved  of  it,  the  book  was 
very  little  used,  and  so  completely  did  it  drop  from  notice 
that  four  years  later,  when  a  General  Convention  entered  more 
successfully  upon  prayer  book  revision,  it  was  not  deemed 
necessary  to  mention  the  "Proposed  Book,"  much  less  to 
abolish  its  use.^  Dr.  Claggett's  attitude,  discretely  veiled  as 
the  views  of  his  congregation  (which  they  doubtless  also 
were),  is  well  represented  in  the  following  letter. 

TO  WILLIAM  DUKE.2 
Very  Dear  and  Rev°  Sir,  Hermitage,  June  19th,  '86 

Your  little  paper  messenger'  arrived  here  at  last,  having 

^  Procter,  P.,  Hist,  of  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  ed.  by  Frere,  p.  239. 

^  Duke  was  by  this  time  a  clergyman  ia  the  Episcopal  Church,  having 
been  ordained  in  1785  by  Bishop  Seabury. 

^  Duke  published  several  books  and  pamphlets,  one  of  which  is  evidently 
referred  to  here. 


ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  MARYLAND  CHURCH    49 

been  one  month  compleat  on  its  Journey.  I  can  with  great 
Truth  assure  you^  it  was  most  welcome;  because  it  flattered 
me  with  y*  Idea  of  possessing  a  warm  Corner  in  y®  Heart  of 
its  Master.  The  proof  it  affords  of  y®  Energy  &  Vigour  of 
your  Mind  makes  me  some  Compensation  for  y*  Distress  I 
feel  on  account  of  that  Languor  &  Indisposition  w"*  (I  find) 
still  continues  to  harass  its  poor  Companion.  You  must, 
however,  endeavor  to  drag  your  Corporation  thus  far  shortly, 
as  I  never  wanted  to  see  your  more.  I  have  several  things 
to  consult  with  you,  respecting  our  Church.  There  is  no  one 
here  equally  capable  &  well  disposed  for  this  Service  &  there- 
fore my  Thoughts  on  these  Subjects  in  all  probability  will 
remain  locked  up  in  my  own  Breast  imtil  I  have  y®  Happiness 
of  seeing  you.  I  must  endeavor  to  get  you  nearer  to  me 
next  year,  if  it  was  only  on  self-interesting  Motives,  I  need 
your  advice  &  assistance  frequently.  It  is  now  pretty  clear 
that  I  shall  not  go  to  Philadelphia  this  Summer.  I'm  tired, 
my  dear  Sir,  of  being  hurried  about,  merely  to  give  a  little 
Sanction  to  measures  w'^**  generally  have  received  y*  Royal 
assent  before  I  hear  of  them.  You'll  say  perhaps  that  I 
ought  to  attend  to  my  Duty  &  endeavor  to  have  Matters 
altered  if  I  think  them  amiss.  How  can  any,  y*  least  altera- 
tion take  place?  Consider  y*  Books  are  already  printed  at 
an  enormous  Expense  &  y®  Resistance  to  be  overcome  will  be 
far  greater  than  any  Efforts  of  mine  will  be  able  to  sur- 
mount. 

The  people  of  this  Congregation  (I  mean  y*  Church's 
real  Friends,  y®  Communicants)  universally  disapprove  of 
y*  new  Book,  and  I  have  written  to  Dr.  West  not  to  send  me 
any  of  them  at  present,  for  I  am  persuaded  it  can  not  be 
introduced  here,  without  giving  great  uneasiness  and  perhaps 
it  would  be  attended  with  worse  Consequences.  Their  Objec- 
tions are  such  as  these,  viz:  That  our  new  Reformers  have 
altered  too  much,  &  have  Presbyterianized  in  many  Instances, 


50  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

particularly  they  have  virtually  denied  y"  Doctrine  of  Re- 
generation in  Baptism  taught  by  y®  Church  of  England  w*** 
Tenet  they  think  is  sufficiently  founded  on  John  3,  5,  Acts 
2,  38  &  22,  16,  Sc  several  other  parts  of  sacred  writ,  they 
contend  that  y®  primitive  Ch'^''  always  held  this  Doctrine,  & 
as  a  proof  of  it,  they  instance  y®  Nicean  Creed  &  y®  Evidence 
it  affords  of  this  Truth  they  think  is  y®  true  Cause  of  its  being 
displaced;  among  several  other  Things  they  oppose  them- 
selves warmly  to  y®  mutilating  &  leaving  out  great  part  of  y' 
Psalms  of  David,  they  contend  that  this  Procedure  may  serve 
as  a  precedent  for  y®  Clergy's  depriving  them  of  any  part  or  y' 
whole  of  y®  sacred  Canon,  whenever  they  choose  to  introduce 
them  to  y®  halcyon  Times  of  monkish  Superstition:  at  any 
rate  they  think  y*  such  a  practice  has  a  tendency  to  weaken 
y®  authority  of  sacred  Scripture  &  is  flatly  reprobated  by 
y®  Scripture  itself. — I  have  lately  received  a  letter  from  a 
Presbyterian  Clergymen  of  note  w*  contains  an  artful  over- 
ture for  a  Convention  (?)  of  y®  Churches  couched  in  y®  form 
of  a  wish.  An  Important  Subject — I  have  given  no  answer 
to  y*  Letter,  nor  do  I  intend  it,  till  I  see  you. — Think  of 
these  things  &  let  me  see  you,  or  hear  from  you  by  a  very 
safe  hand  as  soon  as  possible.  All  here  &  at  Mrs.  Calvert's 
join  in  affection  for  you  (I'm  certain)  &  I  remain,  dear  Sir, 
Very  sincerely.  Your  Friend  &  Brother, 

Tho^  Jn*'  Claggett. 

TO  THE  REV.  DR.  WILLIAM  WEST. 

Aug.  23,  1788. 
Rev°  &  Dear  Sir, 

Your  kind  Letter  by  Mr.  Burgis  came  safely  to  my  Hands 
on  Sunday  night  last.  It  rained  very  hard  all  day  y'  Mon- 
day &  on  Tuesday.  I  set  out  with  y®  enclosed  to  Calvert,  & 
sent  it  by  Boy  to  Mrs.  Bond  &  was  happy  to  find  by  y* 
return   of   y®    Messenger   y'   both   y®    Ladies    were   well.      I 


ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  MARYLAND  CHURCH    51 

understand  from  y*  Ladies  y'  y'  Letter  to  Mrs.  Bond  was 
addressed  to  her  by  yourself,  &  I  only  admire  how  well  you 
can  write  two  different  Hands. 

By  one  of  y*  Rules  entered  into  at  Baltimore  I  think  we  are 
bound  to  correspond  with  one  another  respecting  y®  affairs 
of  y*  Church;  in  this  Situation  I  think  it  my  Duty  to  advise 
with  you  respecting  an  affair  that  gives  me  no  small  uneasi- 
ness. It  is  briefly  this.  Our  friend  Mr.  Mason  Weems^ 
since  y®  breaking  up  of  the  Convention  has  adopted  a  Line 
of  Conduct  that  I  fear  will  be  greatly  prejudicial  to  y' 
Church ;  he  has  I  understand  introduced  y®  Methodist  Hymns 
&  Tunes  in  y*  publick  Service.  The  other  day  I  saw  him 
at  Annapolis.  He  told  me  that  a  Methodist  Preacher  had 
informed  him  that  there  were  a  number  of  people  wavering 
that  wished  to  join  their  Society  but  were  withheld  by 
thinking  it  disgraceful  to  make  a  profession  of  Methodism  & 
entreated  him  to  preach  in  their  Meeting  House  to  give  weight 
&  credit,  &  Sanction  to  y*  Methodist  Religion.  Mr.  Weems 
informed  me  further  that  in  his  opinion  as  a  Preacher  of 
y®  Gospel  he  had  no  right  to  refuse  this  Invitation,  but  as 
an  older  Minister  he  requested  my  opinion  on  y®  Case  as 
thus  stated.  I  gave  him  a  decided  opinion  against  his  doing 
of  it,  at  least  on  y*  Principle,  together  with  some  of  my 
Reasons ;  but  when  I  found  I  had  prevailed  nothing  with  him, 
I  requested  that,  as  his  own  Character,  the  Interest  of  y* 
Church,  &  y®  Situation  of  all  his  neighboring  Ministers  would 
be  materially  affected  by  such  a  Step,  I  begged  that  he  would 
postpone  y*  execution  of  his  Design  untill  he  saw  me  again, 
&  we  should  have  further  Conversation  on  y®  Subject;  to  this 
he  assented  in  positive  Terms,  notwithstanding  which  (I 
understand)  a  few  Days  after  at  a  Quarterly  Meeting  in 
y*  City  of  Annapolis  he  exhibited  in  their  Pulpit  to  y®  no 
small  triumph  of  their  Party. 

1  Mason  Locke  Weems,  author  of  "  The  Life  of  Washington"  etc. 


62  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

His  conduct  (I  verily  believe)  has  materially  affected  y* 
Interest  of  our  Church  in  this  Quarter  &  I  do  suppose  that 
should  his  Example  be  followed  by  one  or  two  more  of  our 
Ministers^  that  very  speedily  two  or  three  Parishes  will  be 
entirely  lopped  oif  from  our  Church.  In  this  View  it  is  a 
very  serious  Consideration  &  I  wish  you  would  consider  it 
maturely,  &  give  me  a  decided  opinion  upon  it. 

I  confess  it  is  a  very  disagreeable  Subject  to  address  you 
on,  &  it  gives  me  pain  to  do  it.  I  have  a  regard  for  Mr. 
Weems,  his  zeal  &  attention  to  y®  Duties  of  his  sacred  Office 
merit  esteem;  but  in  proportion  as  this  Zeal  &  Dilligence  are 
applied  to  y®  Methodist  interest  it  weakens  us.  You  will 
be  so  kind  as  to  consider  how  such  a  Line  of  Conduct  as 
I  have  stated  above  squares  with  our  Canons  &  Rules  &  let 
y*  whole  matter  rest  with  yourself  untill  you  hear  farther 
from,  dear  Sir 

Your  affectionate  Friend  &  Bro. 

Tho^  Jn°  Claggett. 

The  following  letter  to  Bishop  William  White  was  written 
soon  after  that  gentleman  and  Bishop  Provoost  had  returned 
to  America  after  Episcopal  consecration  at  the  hands  of  the 
English  prelates. 

TO  BISHOP  WHITE. 

St.  James  Annahundel  County  April  21  1787 
Right  Rev°  Sir, 

I  have  just  now  heard  by  Mr.  Weems  of  Your  Return  to 
America  in  Bishops  Orders,  the  Information  gives  me  great 
Pleasure,  &  I  would  beg  leave  thus  early  to  congratulate  you 
on  the  Occasion.  Permit  me  Right  Rev^.  &  Dear  Sir,  to 
inform  you,  that  a  Convention  of  our  Church  will  be  held  at 
Chester  Town  in  Kent  County  on  the  fourth  Tuesday  in 
May  next.     I  have  Reason  to  believe  that  the  Lay  Represen- 


ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  MARYLAND  CHURCH    53 

tation  will  be  more  complete  than  it  ever  has  as  yet  been  in 
this  State^  &  that  Matters  of  Magnitude  will  be  then  brought 
forward.  In  this  Situation  of  our  Affairs,  I  would  take  the 
Liberty  to  solicit  your  Presence  there,  if  you  can  possibly 
make  it  convenient.  A  Gentleman  of  your  Character,  a  Na- 
tive of  this  State^  a  Bishop  of  our  excellent  Church  presiding 
in  our  Church  Assembly  would  give  Weight  &  Dignity  to  all 
our  Proceedings,  it  would  have  a  direct  Tendency  to  pro- 
mote y"  Church,  to  unite  us  all  firmly  together,  &  to  fix  us 
in  a  more  desirable  Situation  than  we  have  been  in  since  y^ 
Revolution.  I  should  think  myself  highly  honored,  by  y* 
Reception  of  a  Line  from  you  by  Mr.  Weems'  Return  in- 
forming me  whether  you  think  it  will  be  in  your  power  to 
attend  or  not.''  In  Case  you  can  not  possibly  make  it  con- 
venient I  shall  embrace  the  first  Opportunity  of  paying  my 
Respects  to  you  personally  in  Philadelphia.  With  Sentiments 
of  the  most  perfect  Esteem  I  have  the  Honour  to  be  Right 
Revd  Sir,  Your  most  dutifuU  Serv't 

Tho^  Jn°  Claggett. 

Claggett's  laudable  ambitions  for  a  large  and  influential 
convention  do  not  seem  to  have  been  realized,  for  so  far  as 
we  know  there  were  only  seven  clergymen  and  five  laymen 
present.  Bishop  White  does  not  appear  to  have  attended. 
Although  we  do  not  know  the  reason  we  can  easily  believe 
that  duties  crowded  upon  him  during  the  first  months  of  his 
episcopate,  and  that  he  felt  he  owed  attention  first  to  his 
own  diocese  and  state. 

Very  different  from  the  formal  and  rather  stilted  com- 
munication to  Bishop  White  is  the  following  chatty  letter  to 
his  warm  friend  and  correspondent,  William  Duke, 

^  Bishop  White  was  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  but  his  father  removed  from 
Maryland  three  years  before  the  future  "father  of  the  American  Church" 
was  born. 


64  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

TO  WILLIAM  DUKE. 

Jan.  28,  1792. 

My  Dear   Friend, 

In  your  Letter  of  y®  25th  of  Dec'  (w*  I  have  lately  re- 
ceived) you  mention  a  variety  of  topicks  in  your  preface  on 
"W*^  you  say  you  would  wish  to  write  if  you  had  anything  to 
say  on  them  worth  reading  at  length  however  you  fix  on  a 
Subject,  and  what  you  do  say  on  that  goes  fully  to  prove 
that  none  of  them  would  have  suifered  by  the  masterly  dis- 
quisitions of  your  Genius.  In  this  Instance  you  remind  me 
of  Horace's  delicate  compliment  to  Virgil  in  one  of  his  Satires 
where  he  is  telling  us  that  no  Man  could  possibly  write  in 
y®  perfect  style  equal  to  Virgil,  yet  he  does  it  in  such  Lan- 
guage as  to  convince  us  that  he  himself  was  fully  equal  to 
y*  Task.  What  you  have  heard  respecting  my  removal  to 
Croom  is  very  true  I  have  been  here  about  two  months — my 
House  is  far  from  being  furnished  but  I  have  plenty  of  wood 
to  burn  &  that  circumstance  reconciles  us  better  to  some  in- 
conveniences w*  we  are  obliged  to  put  up  with  especially  in 
this  cold  weather.  I  do  duty  in  both  my  old  Parishes  & 
expect  to  continue  in  that  Line  until  August  at  least.  I  have 
told  your  quondam  Hearers^  that  I  would  preach  to  them 
once  a  fortnight  at  y®  Chappel  on  a  weak  day  gratis,  &  I 
have  attended  regularly;  but  have  seldom  seen  a  tolerable 
Congregation  there,  the  weather  it  seems  is  too  cold  for 
them  to  turn  out  &  I  suppose  it  will  shortly  be  too  hot.  You 
seem  by  your  letters  to  wish  to  know  how  they  do,  I  can  only 
tell  you  that  I  hear  (for  I  have  not  been  much  among  them) 
that  they  eat,  they  drink,  they  fiddle,  they  dance,  they  play, 
&  some  of  them  lie  and  swear  much  as  they  use  to  do — 
gracious  God,  what  is  to  become  of  them ! — the  little  success 
y*  attended  my  labours  for  y*  three  or  four  years   I  spent 

^  Duke  was  rector  of  St.  Paul's,  Prince  George's  County,  from  1787  to 
1791. 


ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  MARYLAND  CHURCH    65 

here  formerly  has  often  been  y®  subject  of  melancholy  reflec- 
tion. I  heartily  wish  that  you  may  have  more  agreeable 
feelings  whenever  you  contemplate  this  Topick — I  dined 
about  a  fortnight  ago  at  old  Mrs.  B's  at  dinner  your  name 
was  mentioned  y®  old  gentleman  observed  that  it  had  been 
currently  reported  y*  you  was  married  in  Baltimore^  &  asked 
me  whether  it  was  true.''  There  was  a  certain  female  member 
of  y*  family  present  who  blushed  &  seemed  a  good  deal 
confused  when  y®  Inquiry  was  made;  the  Rationale  of  this 
part  of  her  conduct  perhaps  you  may  be  better  acquainted 
with  than  I  am. 

I  have  taken  some  steps  since  I  have  been  here  to  get 
y®  Churches  repaired,  the  work  has  been  long  in  hand,  but 
nothing  done  in  it  as  yet.  I  mean  to  try  to  work  them  up 
to  secure  y*  buildings  from  immediate  destruction.  I  hope  they 
will  be  more  wanted  in  some  future  period  for  y*  very  purpose 
for  which  they  were  originally  designed  than  they  are  at 
present.  God  is  able  to  effect  y*  mighty  Revolution  &  when- 
ever &  wherever  He  shall  be  pleased  to  say  let  there  be  light, 
the  darkness  must  fly  before  it.  Johnny  Weems  preaches  once 
a  fortnight  at  y®  lower  Church  gratis,  &  I  hear  they  like  him. 
A  Mr.  Moscross  a  polite  young  Clergyman  officiates  for  a 
hundred  Guineas  a  year  in  y®  Queen  Ann  Parish.  He  pleases 
most  of  his  Hearers;  he  is  equally  charming  I  am  told  in  y® 
Pulpit,  at  a  Horse  Race,  &  at  y®  Card  Table,  i.e.  he  is  polite 
&  an  accomplished  Gentleman  everywhere.  My  dear  Sir  when 
I  see  some  of  our  Bren.  acting  in  direct  opposition  to  y®  few 
rules  of  Discipline  that  we  have  established,  &  hear  them 
justified  for  so  doing  by  y®  members  of  our  Church  it  brings 
to  my  mind  one  of  the  seasonable  observations  that  you  for- 
merly made  on  this  subject  viz:  That  without  Discipline  we 
could  not  reasonably  hope  for  Reformation  &  that  there  was 
very  little  Prospect  of  our  People's  submitting  to  any  Dis- 
cipline.     However  as  it  appears  to  be  absolutely  necessary 


66  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

we  must  with  united  force  try  to  eflfect  it.  .  ,  .  My  little 
family  join  in  respect  to  you  &  I  hope  to  see  you  early  in 
y®  Spring.  My  dear  Sir,  we  have  been  moving  about  it  is 
true,  but  assure  yourself  that  there  is  no  alteration  in  the 
affection  w**"  w''^  I  am 

Your  Friend  &  Brother, 

Tho^  Jn°  Claggett. 


CHAPTER    V 

ELECTION  TO  THE  EPISCOPATE 

It  is  unnecessary  here  to  review  in  length  the  struggle  for 
the  episcopate  in  the  American  colonies.  Even  among  Church- 
men it  was  not  everywhere  a  struggle  for  the  episcopate.  In 
New  England  Churchmen  were  few,  and  not  all  of  those 
looked  with  favor  on  the  advent  of  bishops,  as  they  saw  them 
in  English  Church  and  state;  in  Virginia,  where  the  Church 
had  been  an  establishment,  canons  were  passed  defining  and 
circumscribing  the  office  of  a  bishop;  and  in  South  Carolina 
it  was  expressly  stipulated  that  no  bishop  should  be  intro- 
duced; in  short,  that  the  Episcopal  Church  should  not  be  an 
episcopal  Church.  In  Maryland  there  had  been  some  feeling 
of  alarm,  even  among  Churchmen,  as  to  just  how  a  bishop 
might  conduct  himself  if  they  had  one,  and  how  much  of  the 
clerical  and  lay  power  he  would  take  unto  himself.  But,  on 
the  whole,  Maryland  was  anxious  to  secure  the  episcopate. 

The  majority  of  American  Churchmen  sorely  felt  the  need 
of  a  resident  bishop.  Their  sentiments  were  doubtless  well 
expressed  by  the  petition  signed  by  Churchmen  of  Phila- 
delphia, New  Jersey  and  Maryland  in  1718:  "For  want  of 
episcopacy  being  established  among  us,  and  that  there  has 
never  been  any  bishop  sent  to  visit  us,  our  churches  remain 
unconsecrated,  our  children  are  grown  up  and  cannot  be  con- 
firmed, .  .  .  our  clergy  sometimes  imder  doubts  cannot  be 
resolved.  But  more  especially  .  .  .  the  vacancies  which  daily 
happen  in  our  ministry  cannot  be  supplied  for  a  considerable 
time  from  England,  whereby  many  congregations  are  not  only 
become  desolate,  and  the  light  of  the  gospel  therein  extin- 
guished, but  great  encouragement  is  thereby  given  to  sec- 
retaries of  all  sorts,  which  abound  and  increase  among  us."^ 

1  Tiffany,  Eist.  of  the  P.  E.  Church  in  the  U.  S.,  p.  272. 

57 


68  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

The  opposition  of  Puritans,  Presbyterians  and  other  non- 
conformists was  strong  in  proportion  to  the  likelihood  of  an 
episcopate  being  established  among  them.  "We  hope  in 
God,"  wrote  Samuel  Adams,  in  1768,  when  a  member  of  the 
Massachusetts  House  of  Representatives,  to  its  London  agent, 
"such  an  establishment  may  never  take  place  in  America;  we 
desire  you  would  strenuously  oppose  it.  The  revenue  raised 
in  America,  for  aught  we  can  tell,  may  be  constitutionally 
applied  toward  the  support  of  prelacy  as  of  soldiers  or  pen- 
sioners."^ All  opposition  seemed  to  be  based  on  the  assump- 
tion that  a  bishop  in  America  would  differ  no  whit  from  a 
bishop  in  England,  and  of  some  specimens  of  the  latter. 
Churchmen  and  dissenters  alike  were  united  in  their  disgust 
and  abhorrence.  Churchmen,  however,  saw  that  a  bishop 
transplanted  to  a  missionary  field  might  stay  out  of  politics 
and  return  to  primitive  church  ideals;  the  dissenters  could 
not  see  that  this  satisfactory  condition  would  be  likely  to  result. 

To  Maryland  came  near  belonging  the  honor  of  having 
the  first  American  bishop,  and  that  two  years  before  Samuel 
Seabury  was  born.  In  1727,  the  Bishop  of  London  wrote  to 
the  Rev.  Joseph  Colebatch,  then  serving  in  Maryland,  and 
invited  him  to  come  to  England  and  be  consecrated  as  his 
lordship's  suffragan  for  the  colonies. 

"We  have  not  been  able,"  says  Dr.  Hawks,  "after  much 
research,  to  discover  whether  the  Bishop  acted  in  this  matter 
under  assurances  from  his  majesty  that  Mr.  Colebatch  should 
be  consecrated,  or  whether  he  hoped  to  procure  the  royal 
assent  to  the  measure,  after  the  arrival  of  the  intended  suf- 
fragan. The  small  measure  of  success  that  attended  the  oft 
repeated  attempt  from  various  parts  of  the  continent  to  in- 
duce the  authorities  at  home  to  send  a  bishop  to  America, 
leads  us  to  adopt  the  opinion  that  the  bishop  had  no  positive 
assurance  from  the  crown."* 

1  Ibid,  p.  274-5.  *  Hawks,  Maryland,  p.  196. 


ELECTION  TO  THE  EPISCOPATE  59 

Mr.  Colebatch,  however,  was  not  permitted  to  leave  Mary- 
land. A  writ  of  ne  exeat  was  issued  by  the  Maryland  court, 
which  at  that  time  was  in  exceedingly  strained  relations  with 
the  clergy,  and  the  Bishop  of  London  was  obliged  to  drop  the 
matter.  This  put  an  end  to  any  direct  attempt  to  establish 
a  bishop  in  any  of  the  southern  colonies  for  the  next  forty 
years. 

Very  little  is  known  of  Joseph  Colebatch.  He  is  repre- 
sented by  his  contemporaries  as  a  worthy  and  pious  man.  His 
certificate  of  ordination  to  priest's  orders/  dated  July  4th, 
1695,  and  signed  by  Henry  Compton,  Bishop  of  London, 
tells  us  that  he  was  a  Bachelor  of  Arts  of  Oriel  College,  Ox- 
ford. Coming  immediately  after  ordination  to  Maryland, 
he  became  the  rector  of  All  Hallows  Parish,  Anne  Arundel 
County,  in  I696,  where  he  remained  until  his  death  in  1734. 

No  work  dealing  with  any  phase  of  the  church  history 
of  colonial  Maryland  can  omit  mention  of  the  honored  name 
of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas  Bray.  As  first  commissary  of  the 
Bishop  of  London,  he,  like  all  his  successors  in  that  office, 
worked  to  secure  the  episcopate  for  the  colonies.  In  the 
Fulham  Manuscripts  is  a  carefully  elaborated  plan  for  set- 
tling bishops  in  America,  which  Dr.  Bray  drew  up  and  sent 
to  Bishop  Gibson,  of  London,  October  28th,  1723.^ 

We  have  already  seen  Claggett's  early  desire  for  a  bishop 
in  America,  as  shown  in  his  letters  to  the  Rev.  Weeden  Butler. 
By  the  time  he  had  reached  his  mature  ministry  the  Church- 
men of  his  state  were  nearly  unanimous  in  their  desire  for 
the  episcopate.  Their  debates  in  the  diocesan  conventions 
following  the  election  of  William  Smith,  were  not  so  much  did 
they  want  a  bishop,  as  did  they  want  bishops,  for  it  was 
strongly  felt  that  the  geography  of  the  state  called  for  two 
bishops,  one  on  the  eastern,  and  one  on  the  western  shore. 

^  Original  is  in  the  Maryland  Diocesan  Library,  Baltimore. 

^  Cross,  Anglican  Episcopate  and  the  American  Colonies,  p.  105,  note. 


60  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

The  following  extract  is  taken  from  the  Vestry  Proceedings 
of  St.  James'  Parish,  Anne  Arundel  County,  of  which  Dr. 
Claggett  was  rector. 

"Oct.  18,  1790.  .  .  .  The  Proceedings  were  then  read,  and 
highly  Approved  of  by  the  Vestry  except  those  Articles  of 
the  Constitution  of  this  Church  which  appear  to  restrain  the 
Convention  from  choosing  more  Bishops  than  One  for  this 
State.  This  Vestry  are  clearly  of  Opinion  that  One  Bishop 
will  be  inadequate  to  the  Duties  which  Aught  to  be  Performed 
by  him.  Especially  in  the  present  Exigencies  of  this  Church, 
and  they  therefore  resolve  that  they  will  take  Order  in  this 
Business  before  the  Meeting  of  the  next  State  Convention." 

In  consequence  of  their  resolution  to  "take  Order  in  this 
Business"  the  vestry  met  on  the  12th  of  May,  1791,  and  ap- 
pointed Mr.  Richard  Harrison  their  delegate  to  the  convention 
due  to  be  called  in  Baltimore  in  Whitsun-week.  His  instruc- 
tions as  they  appear  on  the  Vestry  Proceedings  are  as  follows : 

"The  Vestry  taking  into  Consideration  agreeably  to  their 
Resolution  of  the  18th  of  October  last  the  Present  Situation 
of  the  Church  in  Maryland  as  far  as  the  same  has  come 
under  their  Observation  and  also  having  maturely  examined 
the  Constitution  and  Form  of  Government  of  the  said  Church 
passed  at  Easton  last  year  and  Reflecting  on  the  Expediency 
of  being  represented  in  the  House  of  Bishops  in  the  General 
Convention  of  our  Church  to  be  holden  at  the  City  of  New 
York  in  the  year  1792  when  they  have  reason  to  believe  the 
important  subject  of  the  Articles  of  Religion  will  be  taken 
up,  are  of  the  Opinion  that  the  immediate  Election  of  some 
fit  and  qualified  Clergyman  for  a  Bishop  of  this  Church  is  a 
Measure  that  ought  to  be  adopted  and  they  do  instruct  their 
Delegate  (if  he  thinks  the  Measure  practicable)  to  move  and 
vote  for  the  same,  and  also  to  propose  to  the  Convention  that 
the  14th  and  15th  Articles  of  the  Constitution  of  this  Church 
may   be   constitutionally    so    modified    as   that   one    or    more 


ELECTION  TO  THE  EPISCOPATE  61 

Bishops  may  hereafter  be  elected  for  this  Church,  they  being 
fully  Persuaded  that  one  Bishop  will  not  be  adequate  to 
the  Duties  of  his  Office  in  this  State,  divided  as  it  is  by  a 
large  Bay  and  in  which  there  appears  to  them  a  greater  num- 
ber of  Parishes  than  can  be  properly  superintended  by  one 
man." 

The  next  convention  met  at  Baltimore,  June  l6th  to  18th, 
1791,  with  Dr.  Claggett  the  unanimously  elected  president. 
There  appears  to  have  been  considerable  discussion  regarding 
proposed  changes  in  the  constitution,  with  the  result  that  the 
convention  agreed  to  submit  the  proposed  changes  to  the 
consideration  of  the  vestries  of  the  various  parishes.  One 
of  the  proposed  amendments  submitted  for  the  consideration 
of  the  vestries  was  the  l6th  of  the  constitution,  which  was 
to  the  effect  that  if  it  should  be  found  expedient  to  divide 
the  Church  in  the  state  into  two  or  more  dioceses,  or  districts, 
that  a  bishop  should  be  elected  for  each  diocese  by  the  whole 
convention  in  the  manner  prescribed  in  the  constitution,  that 
is,  nomination  and  election  by  the  clergy  by  ballot,  followed 
by  the  vote  of  lay  delegates,  for  the  approval  or  disapproval 
of  the  clerical  vote,  each  order  requiring  a  two-thirds  vote. 

On  the  last  day  of  this  convention  it  was 

"Resolved,  That  Notice  be  given  to  the  Members  of  this 
Church,  that  the  Convention  will,  at  the  next  annual  meeting, 
proceed  to  the  Election  of  a  Bishop;  or,  should  the  Approba- 
tion of  the  Vestries  effect  the  proposed  Amendments  of  the 
Constitution,  and  the  Step  appear  expedient,  to  the  election 
of  Bishops." 

It  would  be  interesting  to  know  more  particulars  of  Clag" 
gett's  election  to  the  bishopric,  but  the  meagre  convention 
journal  offers  little  to  satisfy  the  curiosity.  The  convention 
met  at  Annapolis,  on  Thursday,  the  31st  of  May,  1792. 
Twenty-three  clergymen  and  twenty-seven  lay  delegates  were 
present,  which  was  a  somewhat  larger  number  than  had  con- 


62  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

vened  the  year  before,  when  only  eighteen  clergymen  and 
twenty  laymen  constituted  the  convention.  Dr.  Claggett  was 
unanimously  re-elected  president,  and  the  Rev.  John  Bissett, 
secretary.  As  was  usually  the  case,  this  was  about  all  that 
was  accomplished  the  first  day.  On  Friday,  after  considera- 
tion of  the  constitution,  and  voting  upon  the  various  proposed 
amendments,  in  which  proceeding  the  sixteenth  article,  which 
proposed  the  division  of  the  diocese,  and  the  election  of  more 
than  one  bishop,  was  rejected,  it  was,  on  motion 

"Resolved,  That  the  Convention  now  proceed  to  the  Elec- 
tion of  a  Bishop  for  this  Church. 

"Whereupon  the  Clergy  proceeded,  agreeably  to  the  Con- 
stitution, to  nominate  and  appoint  a  Bishop  by  Ballot;  and  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Claggett  was  unanimously  chosen. 

"This  appointment  was  presented  to  the  Order  of  the 
Laity,  and  was  by  them  unanimously  approved." 

It  was  then  immediately  "Resolved,  That  the  Testimonial 
in  favour  of  the  Bishop-elect,  prescribed  in  the  second  Canon 
of  the  general  Convention,  be  signed  by  the  Members  of 
this  Convention." 

BISHOP  CLAGGETT'S  TESTIMONIAL  FOR  CONSECRATION. 

We  whose  Names  are  underwritten,  fully  sensible  how  im- 
portant it  is  that  the  sacred  office  of  Bishop  should  not  be 
unworthily  conferred  &  firmly  persuaded  that  it  is  our  duty 
to  bear  testimony  on  this  solemn  occasion  without  partiality 
or  affection,  do,  in  the  presence  of  Almighty  God,  testify 
that  the  Rev*^  Thomas  John  Claggett,  D.  D.,  is  not  so  far 
as  we  are  informed  justly  liable  to  evil  report,  either  for 
error  in  religion,  or  for  viciousness  of  life,  &  that  we  do  not 
know  or  believe  that  there  is  any  impediment  or  notable  cause, 
for  which  he  ought  not  to  be  consecrated  to  that  holy  office. 
We  do  moreover,  jointly  &  severally  declare,  that  having 
personally  known  him   for  three  years  last  past,  we  do  in 


ELECTION  TO  THE  EPISCOPATE 


63 


our  consciences,  believe  him  to  be  of  such  sufficiency  in  good 
learning,  such  soundness  in  the  faith,  &  of  such  virtuous 
&  pure  manners  &  godly  conversation,  that  he  is  apt  &  meet 
to  exercise  the  office  of  a  Bishop,  to  the  honour  of  God,  & 
the  edifying  of  his  Church,  and  to  be  an  wholesome  example 
to  the  flock  of  Christ. 


John  Bowie 
Joseph    Messenger 
Thos.  Read 
Jno.   W.    Compton 

R.     HiGINBOTHAM 

TowNSHEND  Dade 
Mason  L.  Weems 
Edward  Gantt 
Colin   Ferguson 
Hatch  Dentt 
Wm.  Duke 
Jno.   Coleman 
John  Bissett 
Jas.  Kemp 
Saml.  Keene 
John  Weems 


Alex^   McPherson 
John  Fraser  Bowie 
Rich"  Sprigg,  Junr. 
John  Rawlings 
Richard  Harrison 
Richard  Harwood,  Junr. 
John  Randall 
Sam^  Godman 
RicH°    Cromwell 
Jas.  Howard 
Tho^  Bailey 
Elisha  Harrison 
W^.  Perry 
Peter  Chaille 
j.  e.   h  award 
Thos.  Jno.  Chew 


John  De  Butts 

The  subscribers  join  most  heartily  in  the  within  recom- 
mendation although  they  cannot  sign  it,  because  they  have 
not  had  personal  knowledge  of  the  Rev"^  D'  Claggett  for  three 
years  last  past,  but  they  have  the  highest  esteem  for  the  said 
Rev^  D'  Claggett  from  his  general  Character. 
Walter  McPherson  Tho®   B.  Veazey 

Joseph  G.  J.  Bend  James  Lloyd 

Arch"  Walker  Wm.  Barroll 

John  White  Aquila  Brown 

Jas.  O'Bryon  Jno.  Hindman 

Edmund  Key  Edward  Worrell 

Jno.   Keene  Richard  Wootton 


64  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

"And  now,"  to  quote  again  from  Dr.  Hawks,  "the  Mary- 
land brethren  wisely  availed  themselves  of  an  opportunity, 
thus  favorably  presented,  to  take  a  step,  the  object  of  which 
was  to  remove  from  the  Church  at  large  a  source  of  dis- 
sension, and  bind  together  more  closely  the  Churches  in  all 
the  dioceses  into  one  dissoluble  fraternity.  The  church  had 
at  that  time  four  bishops.  Of  these,  one.  Bishop  Seabury,  of 
Connecticut,  had  received  consecration  from  the  Scotch  Epis- 
copal Church,  while  Bishops  Provoost,  White,  and  Madison, 
had  obtained  their  ministerial  rank  at  the  hands  of  the  Eng- 
lish prelacy.  Something  approaching  to  collision  between 
Bishops  Seabury  and  Provoost  had  arisen,  from  the  unwill- 
ingness of  the  latter  to  recognize  the  episcopate  of  the 
former.  By  the  judicious  interposition  and  amiable  spirit 
of  that  wise  and  good  man.  Bishop  White,  this  difficulty  had 
been  removed,  and  Bishop  Seabury,  with  the  Churches  of  the 
Eastern  States  had  come  into  complete  union  with  their 
brethren  in  the  other  dioceses. 

"It  now  occurred  to  the  Maryland  Church  to  prevent 
thereafter  forever,  the  possibility  of  a  question  rising  in  the 
American  Episcopal  Church,  on  the  relative  validity  of  the 
English  and  Scotch  Episcopate.  They  wished,  if  possible, 
to  unite  them  in  the  person  of  their  own  bishop,  (for  Ameri- 
can Episcopalians  generally  never  held  the  Episcopacy  of  the 
Scottish  Church  to  be  less  valid  and  regular  than  that  of  Eng- 
land) and  thus  hoped,  in  the  future  successive  consecrations 
of  American  bishops,  so  completely  to  blend  the  two,  that  it 
would  be  hard  to  question  either,  without  shaking,  at  least, 
the  canonical  consecration  of  the  whole  Episcopate  of  the 
Church  in  the  United  States.  By  an  unanimous  vote  of  the 
Maryland  Convention,  it  was  therefore  resolved,  that  all  the 
bishops  should  be  requested  to  join  in  Dr.  Claggett's  conse- 
cration. This  request  was  complied  with,  and  the  Maryland 
Church  accomplished  the  end  it  so  considerately  desired,  for 


ELECTION  TO  THE  EPISCOPATE  65 

not  a  Bishop  has  been  consecrated  since  Bishop  Claggett, 
who  must  not,  to  make  his  consecration  canonical,  claim  the 
succession,  in  part  at  least,  through  the  Scottish  Episcopate."^ 

We  do  not  know  who  the  primary  mover  was  in  this  judi- 
cious act,  but  from  what  we  know  of  Dr.  Claggett's  love  for 
peace  and  harmony,  it  is  easy,  and  perhaps  permissible  in 
the  absence  of  direct  information,  to  imagine  that  such  an 
action  might  have  proceeded  from  the  conciliatory  bishop- 
elect  himself. 

The  general  convention  following  Claggett's  election  con- 
vened in  New  York,  on  Tuesday,  September  12th,  of  that 
same  year,  holding  their  sessions  in  certain  rooms  set  apart 
for  their  use  in  the  City  Hall,  and  divine  services  in  Trinity 
Church,  near  by.  In  due  order  the  necessary  testimonials 
were  presented  and  signed  by  the  house  of  deputies  and  ap- 
proved by  the  house  of  bishops,  and  on  Monday  morning,  at 
half  past  ten  o'clock,  the  17th  of  September,  both  houses 
adjourned,  and  "proceeded  to  Trinity  Church,  to  the  con- 
secration of  the  Rev.  Thomas  John  Claggett,  D.  D. ;  and  after 
divine  service  returned  to  their  house,  when  the  Right  Rev. 
Bishop  Claggett  took  his  seat." 

In  these  simple  words  does  the  Journal  of  the  Convention 
record  the  consecration  of  the  first  bishop  to  receive  that 
rite  on  American  soil.  His  consecrators,  as  we  have  seen, 
were  the  entire  house  of  bishops;  Seabury,  of  Connecticut, 
White,  of  Pennsylvania,  Provoost,  of  New  York,  (who  pre- 
sided as  consecrating  bishop)  and  Madison,  of  Virginia,  all 
of  whom  had  received  their  episcopal  orders  abroad.  Fol- 
lowing the  ceremony  the  house  of  bishops  resolved  that  a 
certificate  of  the  consecration  be  entered  on  the  journals  of 
that  house,  and  that  the  rector,  church  wardens,  and  vestry 
of  Trinity  Church,  be  requested  to  enter  it  on  their  church 
book. 

^  Hawks,  Maryland,  p.  310-12. 


66  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

CERTIFICATE  OF  CONSECRATION  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT.^ 
Know  all  men  by  these  Presents,  that  we,  Samuel  Provoost, 
D.  D.,  Bishop  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the 
State  of  New  York,  Presiding  Bishop ;  Samuel  Seabury,  D.  D., 
Bishop  of  Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island;  William  White, 
D.  D.,  Bishop  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the 
Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania;  James  Madison,  D.  D., 
Bishop  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  State  of 
Virginia;  under  the  protection  of  Almighty  God,  in  Trinity 
Church  in  the  City  of  New  York,  on  Monday,  the  seventeenth 
of  Sepf,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  ninety-two,  did  then  and  there  rightly  and  can- 
onically  consecrate  our  Beloved  in  Christ,  Thomas  John  Clag- 
gett,  D.  D.,  late  Rector  of  St.  James'  Parish  in  the  State  of 
Maryland,  of  whose  sufficiency  in  good  Learning,  soundness 
of  the  Faith,  and  purity  of  Manners,  we  were  fully  ascertained, 
into  the  office  of  Bishop  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
in  the  said  State,  to  which  the  said  Thomas  John  Claggett  hath 
been  elected  by  the  Convention  of  the  said  State.  In  testi- 
mony whereof  we  have  signed  our  Names  and  caused  our 
Seals  to  be  affixed;  given  in  the  City  of  New  York  this  nine- 
teenth day  of  September,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  ninety-two. 

Samuel  Provoost  [L.  S.] 

S.  Seabury  [L.  S.] 

Wm.  White  [L.  S.] 

J.  Madison  [L.  S.] 

On  the  day  following  the  consecration  ceremony.  Bishops 
Claggett  and  Madison  were  named  as  a  committee  to  report 
a  plan  for  supporting  bishops  on  the  frontiers  of  the  United 
States,  a  work  which  was  very  near  to  the  heart  of  Claggett, 
as  we  know  from  his  various  attempts  to  aid  in  this  cause. 

^  Original  is  in  the  Maryland  Diocesan  Library,  Baltimore. 


ELECTION  TO  THE  EPISCOPATE  67 

After  his  election  to  the  episcopate^  Claggett  resigned  the 
joint  rectorship  of  St.  James'  Parish,  Anne  Arundel  County, 
and  All  Saints',  Calvert  County,  which  he  had  held  since  1786, 
and  returned  to  "Croom,"  his  family  estate,  in  Prince  George's 
County,  where  in  1793,  he  again  became  rector  of  St.  Paul's 
Parish,  where  he  remained,  in  conjunction  with  his  duties  as 
bishop,  until  failing  health  and  advancing  years  compelled 
him,  in  1808,  to  seek  a  smaller  parish. 

The  following  letter  to  his  friend  Duke,  is  chiefly  of  interest 
in  showing  Bishop  Claggett's  genuine  humility  and  warmth 
of  friendship. 

BISHOP  CLAGGETT  TO  THE  REV.  WILLIAM  DUKE. 

Novm.  27,  1792. 
My  Dear  Friend, 

I  heard  that  Colo^  Weems  had  received  a  large  Letter  for 
me,  w**  he  was  desired  to  pay  particular  attention  to.  I  con- 
secrated y*  new  Church  at  Annapolis  yesterday,  &  on  my 
return  called  on  y®  Colo\  to  get  y*  Letter.  I  received  it  from 
him  last  Night,  &  had  y®  pleasure  to  find  it  was  a  Letter  from 
you  enclosing  y®  Manuscript.^  I  thank  you  for  it,  I  have  not 
yet  had  time  to  read  it.  Indeed  I  had  no  expectation  of  hav- 
ing an  opportunity  of  acknowledging  y®  receipt  of  it  until  this 
morning  happening  to  meet  Cap"  Mills  (y®  bearer  of  this) 
he  informed  me  that  he  was  just  about  to  sail  to  Elkton,  &  I 
requested  him  to  deliver  it  to  you.  I  expect  to  visit  your  part 
of  y®  Diocese  next  thing  immediately  after  y'  breaking  up  of 
y*  Convention.  You  will  please  to  give  this  Information  to 
any  of  our  Bre"  in  your  quarter  &  request  them  to  prepare 
y®  youth  for  Confirmation.  Mills  is  in  a  great  hurry,  I  shall 
add  no  more,  only  to  beg  of  you,  if  you  have  no  better  Reason, 

*  Dtike  was  the  author  of  several  books  and  pamphlets,  and  his  corre- 
spondence shows  that  he  frequently  submitted  manuscript  to  the  bishop  for 
criticism  and  suggestion. 


68  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

than  y*  one  I  am  naturally  led  to  attribute  it  to^  to  begin  & 
end  y*  Letters  you  address  to  me  in  the  same  manner  you  used 
to  do.  You  may  put  what  you  please  on  y®  outside  of  them; 
but  in  y*  Inside  it  will  give  me  pain  to  find  any  difference 
in  your  address.  Right  Rev*^  Sir,  &  I  am,  Right  Rev"^  Sir, 
&c.,  makes  me  but  a  poor  compensation  for  y*  loss  of  some 
other  Epithets  w*^**  gave  me  much  more  satisfaction  when  you 
honored  me  with  them.  May  God  bless  you,  my  d'  Friend, 
make  you  more  &  more  useful  &  happy  in  this  world,  &  at  last 
admit  you  to  y'  enjoym'  of  himself  in  y*  w^"^  to  come. 

Tho^  Jn°  Claggett. 

The  bishop  did  not  hold  confirmation  at  the  time  he  conse- 
crated St.  Anne's  Church,  Annapolis.  We  know  this  positively, 
for  on  a  little  slip  of  paper  in  the  Maryland  archives  are 
the  names  of  eleven  persons,  confirmed  in  All  Saint's  Parish, 
Frederick  Coimty,  March  24,  1793.  Opposite  the  name  of 
Eleanor  Grosh  is  written  in  Bishop  Claggett's  hand:  "The 
first  person  I  ever  confirmed."^  The  next  day  the  bishop 
confirmed  twenty-one  in  St.  Peter's  Parish,  Frederick  County ; 
on  the  27th  of  March,  nineteen  in  Rock  Creek  Chapel,  Prince 
George's  Parish,  Montgomery  County;  on  Easter  Monday 
about  forty  in  his  own  parish  church  of  St.  Paul's,  and  in 
the  chapel  connected  with  the  parish,  his  daughters,  Mary 
Ann  and  Priscilla  Elizabeth  being  among  the  confirmed;  and 
on  the  22nd  of  April,  twenty-one  persons,  including  two 
negroes,  in  William  and  Mary  Parish,  Charles  County.  On 
the  3rd  of  June,  1793,  in  accordance  with  his  proposal  to 
visit  the  eastern  shore,  he  confirmed  twenty-four  in  old  St. 
Paul's,  Kent  County.  Of  course,  we  must  understand  that 
these  were  not  all   new  members   of  the  Church;  many  of 

1  This  Eleanor  Grosh  married  a  Mr.  Hart,  brother-in-law  of  Henry  Clay, 
and  his  sister,  Sophia  Grosh,  who  was  confirmed  at  the  same  time,  married 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Clay,  brother  of  Henry  Clay. 


ELECTION  TO  THE  EPISCOPATE  69 

them  were  adults  who  had  been  communicants  of  the  Church 
for  many  years,  but  who  had  never  had  a  bishop  in  their 
midst  to  confer  the  apostolic  rite  of  confirmation. 

The  Maryland  convention  of  1793,  the  first  over  which 
Bishop  Claggett  presided  as  its  episcopal  head,  convened  at 
Easton,  May  23.  The  bishop  delivered  a  charge  to  his  clergy, 
for  which  he  received  their  thanks  in  a  resolution,  and  a 
request  that  he  furnish  a  copy  for  publication.  No  copy, 
however,  has  come  to  our  notice.  This  convention  took  up 
the  subject  of  an  Episcopal  Church  in  Washington.  This  is 
probably  the  first  formal  occasion  on  which  this  theme  was 
discussed.  Twelve  trustees  were  appointed  for  the  execution 
of  plans  in  this  direction,  and  a  resolution  passed  that  the 
convention  would  later  propose  a  lottery  scheme  for  build- 
ing a  church,  a  method  very  common  and  considered  entirely* 
above-board  in  those  days. 

At  the  convention  of  1795  the  bishop  reported  that  these 
trustees  informed  him  that  nothing  had  been  done  under  the 
appointment,  and  that  the  prospect  of  success  from  a  lottery 
at  present  appeared  to  him  very  small.  So  the  convention  de- 
cided that  inasmuch  as  the  city  of  Washington  and  the 
neighboring  territory  had  been  erected  into  a  distinct  parish, 
their  interposition  was  no  longer  necessary  and  the  scheme 
was  thereupon  dropped. 

For  all  the  twenty-four  years  that  Claggett  served  as 
bishop  he  never  received  from  the  convention  a  dollar  as 
salary,  and  very  far  from  full  payment  for  all  his  expenses. 
At  the  1793  convention  the  first  steps  were  taken  towards 
meeting  the  latter,  and  it  was  resolved  that  a  sermon  should 
be  preached  annually  in  each  parish,  for  the  purpose  of  rais- 
ing money  for  defraying  expenses  incurred  by  the  bishop  in 
discharge  of  episcopal  duties.  This  topic  was  conscientiously 
and  gloomily  discussed  at  nearly  every  succeeding  conven- 
tion, but  there  never  was  a  year  when  the  proceeds  from  this 


70  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

source  equalled  the  bishop's  modest  but  necessary  expenses. 

Private  means  was  decidedly  a  requisite  to  episcopal  honors 
in  those  days,  and  Bishop  Claggett  was  fortunate  in  having 
a  private  income  sufficiently  large  to  make  him  independent 
of  ecclesiastical  emoluments. 

In  this  convention  of  1793  an  amendment  to  the  constitu- 
tion was  proposed,  approved  and  ordered  to  be  printed  for 
the  consideration  of  the  respective  vestries,  with  a  view  to 
permitting,  in  the  absence  of  the  bishop,  the  appointment  of 
a  temporary  chairman  of  a  diocesan  convention.  Heretofore 
no  such  provision  had  been  made,  which  seemed  to  imply 
that  if  the  bishop  could  not  be  present  to  preside  there  could 
be  no  convention.  The  convention  of  the  following  year 
unanimously  ratified  this  amendment,  as  it  was  obvious  any 
intelligent  body  would  do  when  the  matter  was  brought  to 
its  attention. 

In  the  convention  of  1794,  which  met  at  Baltimore,  June 
12th  to  14th,  the  bishop  delivered  an  address  which  is  printed 
in  full  in  the  journal,  in  accordance  with  resolution.  He  re- 
ported that  since  the  last  convention  at  Easton  he  had  com- 
pleted a  visitation  of  all  the  parishes  in  the  diocese,  except 
those  in  Somerset  and  Worcester  Counties,  the  two  lower 
counties  of  the  eastern  shore,  and  a  few  other  parishes,  most 
of  which  were  vacant.  He  had  intended  to  complete  his  tour 
of  the  diocese  before  that  session,  but  "a  long  and  painful 
illness  has  prevented  the  execution  of  my  original  design." 

This  is  the  earliest  mention  we  find  of  that  painful  disease, 
rheumatism  and  an  accompanying  nervous  disorder  of  which, 
from  that  time  on,  the  bishop  was  never  wholly  free.  For 
the  remainder  of  his  life  all  work  was  done  against  heavy 
odds,  much  of  it  in  acute  pain.  Many  of  his  letters  beg  the 
recipient  to  excuse  poor  penmanship,  as  the  pain  in  his  arm 
was  so  keen  as  barely  to  permit  him  to  hold  a  pen,  some  of 
them  were  written  in  bed,  when  bolstered  by  pillows,  and 


ELECTION  TO  THE  EPISCOPATE  71 

sometimes  his  daughter  was  obliged  to  act  as  amanuensis. 
Sometimes  engagements  had  to  be  canceled,  and  in  the  latter 
years  of  his  life  traveling  was  nothing  short  of  an  agony,  and 
was  performed  only  in  the  grim  determination  of  a  truly  brave 
man  to  do  his  duty. 

"I  am  happy  to  inform  you/'  says  the  bishop  in  his  address, 
to  return  from  our  digression,  "that  in  the  course  of  my  visita- 
tions I  have  admitted  three  gentlemen  to  Priests',  and  two  to 
Deacons'  orders;  I  have  seen  six  new  churches  building, 
several  old  ones  under  repair,  and  I  have  confirmed  about 
2,000  persons;  having  also  ordered  that  their  names  be 
registered  in  the  parish  books.  Great  respect  has  been 
uniformly  shown  to  the  ordinance  of  confirmation  by  the  mem- 
bers of  our  Church,  and  I  have  been  told  by  some  of  my 
clerical  brethren,  that  (by  the  blessing  of  God)  it  has  already 
been  followed  by  the  most  happy  effects  in  their  different 
congregations.  These  are  all  flattering  circumstances.  Our 
minds  must  contemplate  these  events  with  pleasure." 

The  bishop  proceeds  to  point  out,  on  the  other  hand,  certain 
defects  in  church  polity,  and  certain  evils  arising  from  her 
present  circumstances,  which  threaten  serious  calamities. 
With  reference  to  clerical  discipline  he  had  this  to  say: 

"By  the  10th  article  [of  the  Constitution],  which  respects 
discipline,  no  clergyman  can  be  amenable  for  ill  conduct  to 
our  ecclesiastical  tribunals,  unless  accused  by  his  own  vestry, 
or  by  four  communicants  of  his  own  parish. 

"The  constitution  has  now  been  in  force  for  several  years, 
and  there  has  not  been  a  single  instance  of  accusation  against 
any  clergyman.  I  do  most  firmly  believe  that  our  clergy  are 
a  respectable  body  of  men,  and  such  as  would  do  honor  to  any 
society  upon  earth,  yet,  even  with  these  prepossessions  in  their 
favour,  I  can  hardly  persuade  myself  that  there  is  not  one 
unworthy  character  among  them.  Even  in  the  Apostolick 
College  there  was  a  Judas  Iscariot.     To  be  plain:  I  do  know 


72  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

one  instance,  in  which  a  vestry  have  acknowledged  to  me  that 
they  had  neglected  this  duty,  and  pleaded  as  an  apology  'that 
it  was  a  painful  thing  to  them,  to  exhibit  an  accusation  against 
their  own  pastor:'  they  went  farther;  they  acknowledged  that 
their  Church  had  greatly  suffered  from  this  neglect  of  their 
duty." 

In  accordance  with  the  bishop's  request  that  action  should 
be  taken  in  this  matter,  the  convention  resolved,  and  published 
for  the  consideration  of  the  vestries,  an  amendment  to  the 
effect  that  if  the  standing  committee  had,  on  good  information, 
the  knowledge  that  a  clergyman  had  committed  an  offence 
for  which  he  ought  to  be  tried,  the  committee  should  pro- 
ceed to  inquire  into  the  case,  even  though  no  accusation  had 
been  presented  by  the  vestry  or  by  four  communicants.  This 
direct  and  explicit  charge  seems  to  have  been  directed  against 
the  Rev.  Townshend  Dade,  rector  of  Eden,  now  St.  Peter's 
Parish,  Montgomery  County,  who  was  brought  to  trial  the 
following  year  for  drunkenness,  in  which  he  put  forth  no 
defence,  and  was  consequently  deposed  from  the  ministry. 

Bishop  Claggett  also  called  the  convention's  attention  to 
the  incompetent  provision  for  the  clergy,  and  to  remedy  this 
deficiency  he  recommended  the  pew-rent  scheme  as  a  sub- 
stitute for  the  voluntary  subscription  plan  then  in  vogue, 
which  worked  so  poorly  that  many  able  ministers  were 
obliged  to  live  on  a  pittance  less  than  that  paid  to  day 
laborers.  "Composed  of  flesh  and  blood,"  said  the  bishop,  in 
his  address  to  the  diocese  at  large,  in  1794,  "they  require, 
Brethren,  to  have  the  decays  of  nature  repaired  by  food,  and 
the  inclemencies  of  the  weather  moderated  by  raiment." 
Many  of  the  clergymen  (in  other  churches  as  well  as  in  the 
Episcopal)  were  obliged  to  teach  school,  do  private  tutoring, 
or  even  launch  into  commercial  ventures  for  the  comfortable 
support  of  their  families.  One  clergyman  even  resorted  to 
the  conducting  of  a  distillery.     The  Rev.  James  Laird,  rector 


ELECTION  TO  THE  EPISCOPATE  7a 

of  Somerset  Parish^  Somerset  County,  wrote  to  Bishop-elect 
Kemp,  on  the  iPth  of  July,  1814,  evidently  in  response  to  an 
admonition  from  the  latter:  "For  engaging  in  the  distillery 
business  I  am  truly  sorry,  and  deeply  mortified,  since  it  is  so 
exceptionable  in  public  estimation;  and  I  will  certainly  divest 
myself  of  it  as  soon  as  I  possibly  can.  Its  situation  and  the 
apparent  advantage  of  connecting  it  with  my  mill,  determined 
me  to  adopt  it  as  the  best  expedient  for  supplying  a  large 
deficit  in  my  annual  revenue  by  giving  up  the  Academy.  The 
effect  it  has  had,  or  may  have  on  my  character,  was  not 
realized,  nor  did  my  friends  ever  hint  it  to  me  before  I  pur- 
chased." 

"In  the  progress  of  my  visitation,"  proceeds  the  bishop,  "I 
observed  that  the  slender  patrimony  of  the  Church  is,  almost 
in  every  parish,  much  neglected ;  the  glebes  have  been  inj  ured ; 
most  of  the  parsonage  houses  are  in  a  state  of  dilapidation; 
the  parish  libraries  now  in  the  hands  of  the  vestries,  have 
lately  been  greatly  damaged."-"^ 

The  convention  gave  respectful  heed  to  this  address  of  their 
bishop,  and  evidently  tried  to  correct  the  errors  to  which  their 
attention  had  been  called.  They  passed  a  resolution  that  an 
address  be  made  to  the  members  of  the  Church  in  Maryland 
stating  these  facts,  and  calling  upon  them  "to  strive  earnestly 
to  remedy  the  evils  and  to  use  their  utmost  exertions  for 
promoting  the  interests  of  their  venerable  Church."  A  com- 
mittee was  also  appointed  to  petition  the  legislature  for 
amendments  to  the  vestry  act  of  1779>  which  had  not  proved 
itself  adequate  in  serving  the  interests  of  the  Church.  Min- 
isters were  so  few,  and  vacant  parishes  were  so  many,  that 

^  Most  of  these  parish  libraries  were  founded  by  Dr.  Thomas  Bray,  the 
Bishop  of  London's  commissary  to  Maryland  and  Virginia,  between  1696 
and  1730,  the  date  of  Bray's  death.  The  books  are  now  widely  scattered; 
many,  of  course,  are  destroyed;  St.  John's  College,  Annapolis,  has  several 
hundred  of  them,  the  Maryland  Diocesan  Library,  of  Baltimore,  about  35, 
other  institutions  a  few  stray  copies,  and  some  are  in  private  hands,  though 
it  is  difficult  to  understand  how  they  rightly  came  there. 


74  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

the  convention  resolved  that  every  candidate  for  orders  should 
become  a  lay  reader,  and  be  stationed  in  some  vacant  parish 
by  the  bishop.  There  seemed  to  be  no  danger  that  the  supply 
would  exceed  the  demand. 

Altogether  the  convention  of  1794  seemed  very  much  in 
earnest  for  the  welfare  of  the  Church,  and  their  deliberations 
have  thrown  considerable  light  on  its  condition.  For  a  time, 
as  we  shall  see,  improvement  did  follow,  but  the  Maryland 
Church  was  destined  to  sink  yet  lower  in  numbers  and  in 
power  before  it  should  stand  firmly  on  its  feet  as  a  growing 
and  influential  body. 

The  address  to  the  Church  at  large  which  the  bishop  and 
a  committee  were  requested  to  prepare  was  duly  presented  to 
the  people's  attention.  It  is  full  of  sound  judgment,  common 
sense  and  fatherly  advice,  and  is  a  good  specimen  of  Bishop 
Claggett's  literary  style,  for  it  is  signed  by  the  bishop  in 
behalf  of  the  committee,  and  is  generally  acknowledged  to 
have  been  substantially  the  work  of  his  pen.  Infidelity  was 
the  chief  evil  against  which  revealed  religion  was  compelled 
at  that  time  to  fight;  Tom-Paineism  was  rampant  both  in 
Europe  and  in  America,  the  book-stalls  were  being  flooded 
with  pamphlets  and  tracts,  most  of  which  were  of  small  value, 
bearing  upon  one  side  or  the  other  of  this  live  topic,  and  the 
bishop  was  thoroughly  awake  to  the  gravity  of  the  moral 
tendency,  finding  expression  in  his  address  in  the  following 
passage : 

"It  is  now  some  time  since  the  mournful  voice  of  religion 
hath  been  heard,  complaining  of  the  unmerited  neglect  with 
which  she  hath  been  treated.  The  flattering  prospect  of 
brighter  days,  marked  with  rational  zeal,  and  ardent  piety 
with  which  hope  enlivened  this  melancholy  period  seems  to 
be  disappearing.  Irreligion  hath  succeeded  a  cold  indiff'erence 
towards  religion.  Sentiments  are  uttered,  in  the  presence  of 
crowded   audiences,    drawn   together   by   the   novelty   of   the 


ELECTION  TO  THE  EPISCOPATE  75 

doctrines,  or  from  the  instability  of  religious  principles,  which 
ought  to  alarm  every  friend  to  morality,  to  social  peace  and 
order;  and  which  have  already  produced  correspondent  prac- 
tices. Brethren,  suffer  not  this  irreligion  to  gain  ground,  to 
imdermine  your  true  happiness  in  this  world,  and  to  endanger 
your  felicity  in  the  everlasting  state.  Let  it  be  discouraged 
by  your  conversation,  and  condemned  by  your  actions.  Mark, 
as  your  greatest  enemies,  those  whose  words  or  deeds  are 
tinctured  with  it,  in  the  slightest  degree;  and  abhor  their 
principles,  as  worthy  of  the  greatest  detestation.  Is  it  not 
high  time  for  the  friends  of  Christianity  to  be  seriously 
alarmed,  when  men  possessing  the  power  of  one  of  the  great- 
est empires  in  the  world,  have,  by  a  solemn  decree,  denied  all 
revealed  religion?  When  the  shops  of  our  Book-sellers  con- 
tain publications  avowing  the  same  sentiments,  and  recom- 
mended to  our  Notice  in  the  public  prints.''"^ 

^  The  Convention  of  the  P.  E.  Church  in  the  State  of  Maryland  to  the 
Vestries  and  other  Members  of  the  said  Church.     1794. 


CHAPTER  VI 

A  NEW  VESTRY  ACT 

The  Church  people  of  Maryland  had  long  recognized  the 
incompetency  of  their  existing  vestry  act  which  was  passed 
in  1779.  This  act  did  not  provide  for  the  rector  as  a  member 
of  the  vestry  and  did  not  permit  the  vestry  to  buy  or  sell  any 
property  of  the  Church.  At  the  convention  of  1794  a  com- 
mittee, consisting  of  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Thomas  F.  Oliver  and 
Joseph  G.  J.  Bend  and  Messrs.  Samuel  Chase,  Gustavus  Scott 
and  Luther  Martin,  was  appointed  to  petition  the  legislature 
for  such  amendments  to  the  existing  act  as  should  appear  to 
them  desirable.  The  different  vestries  were  at  the  same  time 
requested  to  send  to  this  committee  such  remarks  on  and 
criticisms  of  the  act  as  might  assist  it  in  its  duty. 

We  have  already  referred  to  Bishop  Claggett's  address  to 
the  vestries  and  members  of  the  Church  which  the  convention 
of  1794  requested  him  to  prepare.  In  this  address  the  bishop 
spoke  of  the  need  of  a  vestry  act  which  would  be  more  precise 
and  more  adequate.  "Some  years  have  now  elapsed,"  said 
the  bishop,  "since  the  Legislature  passed  the  act  for  the 
establishment  of  select  vestries.  Imperfect  and  defective  as 
it  is,  it  dispenses  to  us  certain  benefits ;  but  alas !  such  is  the 
frozen  unconcern  which  pervades  many  parishes,  that  they 
have  neglected  to  choose  vestries,  even  for  the  preservation  of 
their  Churches  and  Glebes.  We  entreat,  we  adjure  you. 
Brethren,  to  show  a  greater  zeal  for  your  excellent  Church, 
and  not  to  refuse  the  care  and  charge  of  her,  with  that  pro- 
perty, which  our  civil  constitution  and  laws  have  entrusted 
and  secured  to  you  for  the  use  and  support  of  her  ministers. 
But  as  we  consider  the  vestry  act  inadequate  to  its  objects, 

76 


A  NEW  VESTRY  ACT  77 

we  wish  you  to  communicate  such  defects  as  have  occurred  to 
yoU;,  to  the  committee  appointed  by  this  convention  to  petition 
the  General  Assembly  for  a  law  better  adapted  to  the  exigen- 
cies of  our  Church.  We  wish  not  to  do,  or  even  to  offer  the 
least  injury  or  offence  to  our  brethren  of  other  religious 
societies ;  nor  shall  we  ask  for  any  legislative  provisions,  which 
we  wish  not  to  every  society,  which  may  desire  them."-*- 

Nothing  came  from  this  committee,  they  reporting  to  the 
convention  the  following  year  that  through  unforeseen  and 
unavoidable  circumstances  they  had  not  made  any  application 
to  the  legislature.  The  convention  of  1796,  which  met  at 
Easton,  was  very  sparsely  attended,  as  conventions  on  the 
eastern  shore  were  beginning  to  be,  and  nothing  except  routine 
business  was  transacted.  In  1797  the  bishop  in  his  address 
to  the  convention  again  raised  the  question  of  a  vestry  act, 
and  assuring  the  convention  that  the  previous  obstacles  were 
no  longer  present,  recommended  a  further  attempt  to  secure 
legislation.  In  accordance.  Bishop  Claggett,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Bend,  Samuel  Chase,  Philip  Barton  Key  and  William  Cook 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  secure  the  passage  of  a  bill 
which  had  already  received  the  approbation  of  the  convention. 

In  October,  1796,  Bishop  Claggett  and  a  majority  of  the 
standing  committee  addressed  a  circular  letter  to  the  rectors 
and  vestries  of  the  respective  parishes,  in  which  they  reviewed 
the  history  of  the  last  two  years'  attempts  to  secure  a  new 
vestry  act,  and  presented  a  synopsis  of  the  bill  proposed  as 
drawn  up  by  the  committee  appointed  in  1794.  It  would 
appear  that  previous  to  the  convention  of  1797  Bishop 
Claggett  had  been  in  Annapolis  in  the  interest  of  a  new  bill 
regarding  vestries.  "I  was  written  to  by  some  of  y®  Com- 
mittee," said  he  in  a  letter  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  James  Kemp,  from 

1  "The  Convention  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  State  of 
Maryland  to  the  Vestries  and  other  members  of  the  said  church."  [Pam- 
phlet.] p.  7. 


78  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

his  home  in  Croom,  February  11,  1797,  "to  attend  at 
Annapolis  to  prefer  our  Petition  respecting  amendments  to 
the  Vestry  Act.  I  attended  on  the  day  they  appointed,  &  for 
several  days  after,  but  not  one  of  them  appeared  &  as  they 
had  y*  Law  I  could  not  prefer  it  myself.  I  had  conversation 
with  many  members  of  y®  Assembly,  &  found  them  well  dis- 
posed to  do  every  reasonable  thing  for  y®  advancement  of  our 
Church.  I  wish  I  may  ever  see  another  such  assembly.  I 
intend  to  use  my  endeavors  to  bring  y*  bill  we  have  framed 
before  our  next  Convention  &  to  endeavor  to  get  them  to 
recommend  it  to  y*  next  assembly."  A  hint  as  to  the  reason 
for  this  delay  is  found  in  a  letter  from  Dr.  Bend,  rector  of 
St.  Paul's,  Baltimore,  to  Dr.  Kemp,  January  23,  of  the  same 
year:  "But  perhaps  you  know  before  this  that  the  bill  never 
came  before  the  assembly.  I  showed  it  to  our  vestry  who 
were  opposed  to  it.  I  consulted  Mr.  Chase  &  Mr.  Chase,  Mr. 
Cook;  &  we  determined  not  to  risk  the  loss  of  it,  by  pushing 
it  forward  in  defiance  of  this  parish."  Dr.  Bend  refers  more 
particularly  to  the  opposition  in  St.  Paul's  in  a  letter  dated 
November  28,  1797:  "Our  vestry  has  made  very  serious  op- 
position to  the  vestry  bill  of  the  late  Convention;  &  to  a 
memorial  presented  by  them  to  the  House  of  Delegates,  they 
have  added  a  petition  from  forty  of  the  most  respectable 
parishioners.  This  memorial  &  petition  notwithstanding, 
leave  has  been  given  to  bring  in  a  bill  agreeably  to  the 
prayer  of  the  petitioning  committee;  &  Mr.  Chase  thinks  the 
bill  will  become  a  law.  The  opposition  from  our  parish  will 
probably  have  the  less  weight  from  their  having  entered  into 
a  detail  of  objections,  from  which  the  most  inattentive  mem- 
bers of  the  Legislature  must  perceive,  that  they  have  greatly 
misunderstood  the  bill.  To  render  its  passage,  however,  more 
certain,  the  Committee  introduced  into  it  some  alterations  of 
which  the  most  important  respects  the  Church  wardens,  who 
will  be  left  on  the  present  footing." 


A  NEW  VESTRY  ACT  79 

At  the  convention  of  1798  Bishop  Claggett  reported  in 
behalf  of  the  committee  that  the  vestry  act  had  been  brought 
before  the  legislature  but  had  been  postponed  to  the  next 
session.  The  committee  on  the  state  of  the  Church  later  in 
the  convention  prepared  and  presented  to  that  body  a  memo- 
rial addressed  to  the  state  legislature,  which  was  unanimously 
adopted  and  duly  presented.  This  memorial  was  signed  by 
the  bishop;  whether  he  assisted  the  committee  in  its  prepara- 
tion we  do  not  know.  In  this  memorial  the  convention  stated 
their  case  as  follows:  "Under  their  present  vestry  act,  defec- 
tive and  imperfect  as  it  must  be  acknowledged  to  be,  they  be- 
held with  grief  that  Church  which  the  Redeemer  of  the  world 
had  founded,  and  which  the  sufferings  and  virtues  of  many 
great  and  good  men  had  cemented,  crumbling  to  pieces.  They 
had  no  power  to  build  or  repair  churches,  to  purchase  ground 
for  church-yards,  nor  to  acquire  or  dispose  of  property  of  any 
kind.  And  it  must  be  obvious,  that  unless  the  civil  authorities 
dispensed  some  power  of  this  kind,  no  society  whatever  can 
long  exist,  or  can  attain  the  object  of  their  association.  When 
they  looked  forward  to  the  result  of  their  present  situation, 
the  prospect  was  dark  and  comfortless.  They  saw  few  men 
of  talents  and  learning  entering  into  the  ministerial  office ;  few 
parents  encouraging  their  children  to  qualify  themselves  for 
a  profession,  which,  to  many  other  difficulties,  added  the  in- 
convenience of  poverty.  They  beheld  those  desolating  prin- 
ciples, which,  in  other  countries  have  annihilated  everything 
that  can  make  life  desirable,  rapidly  gaining  ground,  and  in 
their  train  fanaticism,  equally  destructive  of  genuine  piety 
and  morality. 

"That  they  have  been  often  relieved  from  some  of  their 
embarrassments  by  legislative  assistance,  they  acknowledge 
with  gratitude ;  but  it  was  both  painful  to  them,  and  expensive 
to  the  state,  to  be  coming  forward  with  applications  at  every 
session.     Particularly  cautious  not  to  interfere  with  the  rules 


80  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

or  polity  of  other  religious  denominations,  nor,  indeed,  wish- 
ing to  secure  to  themselves  any  advantages  which  should  not 
be  extended  to  them,  your  memorialists  saw  with  pleasure,  that 
the  legislature  of  Maryland  had  granted  acts  of  incorporation 
to  others,  as  full  and  extensive,  differing  only  in  some  things, 
relative  to  internal  government,  as  the  law,  for  which  they 
petitioned.  Nay,  they  flattered  themselves,  that  their  plan 
was  preferable,  in  as  much  as  it  precluded  the  necessity  of 
any  future  applications."^ 

They  called  attention  to  the  extreme  importance,  especially 
to  country  parishes,  of  having  the  ministers  considered  mem- 
bers of  the  vestries,  and  that  this  plan  had  been  adopted  in 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  every  state  except  that 
of  Maryland. 

At  the  November  session  of  1798  the  vestry  bill  was 
presented  and  became  a  law  on  January  15th,  1799-  By  the 
new  act  it  was  provided  that,  "Every  free  white  male  citizen 
of  this  state,  above  twenty-one  years  of  age,  resident  of  the 
parish  where  he  offers  to  vote  six  months  next  preceding  the 
day  of  election,  who  shall  have  been  entered  on  the  books  of 
the  parish  one  month  at  least  preceding  the  day  of  election 
as  a  member  of  the  protestant  episcopal  church,  and  who 
shall  also  contribute  to  the  charges  of  the  said  parish  in  which 
he  offers  to  vote  such  sum  as  a  majority  of  the  vestry  shall 
annually,  within  ten  days  after  their  election,  in  writing,  make 
known  and  declare,  not  exceeding  two  dollars,  shall  have  a 
right  of  suffrage  in  the  election  of  vestrymen  for  such  parish." 
The  qualifications  of  voters  being  thus  settled,  the  act  then 
provided  for  their  registration,  how  vacancies  in  the  vestry 
were  to  be  filled,  what  oaths  were  to  be  taken,  the  days  on 
which  the  vestries  were  to  be  held,  that  the  rector,  who  should 
be  considered  a  member  of  the  vestry,  should  preside,  with  a 
right  to  vote  upon  an  equal  division,  except  in  cases  where  he 

1  Journal  P.  E.  Church  in  Maryland,  1798,  p.  9. 


A  NEW  VESTRY  ACT  81 

was  in  any  manner  personally  interested,  that  he  should  have 
possession  and  enjoyment  of  the  glebe  lands,  and  other  prop- 
erty belonging  to  the  parish,  unless  he  otherwise  contracted 
with  the  vestry,  that  the  vestry  should  have  an  estate  in  fee 
simple  in  all  churches  and  chapels,  glebes  and  other  lands, 
declaring  them  to  have  a  good  title  and  estate  in  all  the 
property  once  belonging  to  the  Church  of  England,  which  the 
legislature  recognized  as  being  the  same  with  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  of  Maryland.  If  a  rector  committed  waste 
or  damage  to  church  property  he  should  be  liable  to  pay 
treble  damages.  Two  church  wardens  were  to  be  chosen  an- 
nually by  the  vestry,  who  should  have  the  power  to  keep  the 
peace.  The  vestry  were  given  the  power  of  electing  the  min- 
ister and  making  a  contract  with  him  for  his  services.  If  in 
any  parish  there  were  two  ministers  they  were  to  be  associate 
rectors,  presiding  over  the  vestry  by  turns,  unless  one  should 
be  of  an  inferior  order,  in  which  case  the  other  should  be 
rector  and  preside  over  the  vestry.  The  law  then  provided  for 
the  keeping  of  a  parish  register,  a  duty  which  in  some  parishes 
had  in  the  past  been  shamefully  neglected,  imposed  a  fine  on 
vestrymen  for  refusing  to  serve  when  elected,  or  failing  to 
attend  vestry  meetings,  and,  most  important  in  the  new  law, 
made  the  vestry  of  each  parish  an  incorporated  body,  with 
power  to  acquire  and  hold  property  for  the  use  of  the  parish, 
"provided,  that  the  clear  yearly  value  of  the  estate  of  any 
vestry  (exclusive  of  the  rents  of  pews,  collections  in  churches, 
funeral  charges,  and  the  like),  shall  not  exceed  two  thousand 
dollars." 

The  vestry  were  forbidden  to  dispose  of  any  part  of  the 
church  property,  without  the  consent  of  a  majority  of  their 
body,  of  whom  the  rector  was  to  be  one,  and  also  without  the 
consent  of  both  of  the  church  wardens;  and  when  any  prop- 
erty was  sold  by  the  vestry,  they  were  forbidden  to  apply 
any  of  the  principal  of  the  money  so  acquired  towards  any 


82  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

debt  contracted  with  their  minister  on  account  of  his  official 
duties.  They  might  at  any  time  buy  at  least  two  acres  of  land 
for  a  burial  ground,  or  a  site  for  a  church  or  parsonage  house, 
and  might  sell  or  rent  pews.  And  finally,  to  the  convention 
was  given  the  power  to  unite  or  divide  parishes,  and  to  make 
new  parishes.-*^ 

St.  Paul's  Church,  Baltimore,  fought  the  bill  to  the  last; 
Dr.  Bend  writing  to  his  friend  Duke,  on  December  27,  1798: 
"Our  Vestry  Bill  has  passed  and  with  no  material  alterations. 
Our  Vestry  persisted  in  their  opposition,  and  sent  down  two 
of  their  body,  George  Buchanan  and  Dixon  Brown,  to  arrest 
it  in  the  Senate.  But  on  the  very  day  of,  or  the  day  after, 
their  arrival,  the  Senate  passed  it."  And  in  a  letter  a  few 
weeks  later  he  adds,  "It  is  not  what  I  wished  it  to  be,  but  it 
contains  some  valuable  properties  which  atone  for  its  defects." 

1  Kilty,  Laws  oj  Maryland,,  1798,  ch.  24. 


CHAPTER  VII 

THE  PLAN  OF  VISITING  MEMBERS 

Writing  to  his  friend  Duke,  on  November  29th,  1792, 
shortly  after  his  consecration.  Bishop  Claggett  says: 

"You  take  it  for  granted  that  I  am  already  vested  with  a 
power  to  call  on  y®  members  of  y®  Standing  Committee  to 
assist  me  in  y*  laborious  duty  of  visiting  y*  Parishes.  I  wish 
it  was  so,  may  I  wish  it  extended  my  Powers  in  this  respect 
a  little  farther,  so  as  to  enable  me  to  call  on  you  to  visit  Mr. 
Bissett's  District  (as  I  imderstand  he  is  removed)  ;  but  y* 
fact  is,  such  a  measure  is  only  proposed  to  y®  different  vestries 
for  their  considerations  to  be  ratified  next  Convention,  if  then 
approved  of." 

The  next  convention,  that  of  1793,  adopted  the  amended 
article  of  the  constitution  which  provided  that  while  there  was 
a  bishop  in  the  Church,  the  offices  of  President  of  Convention, 
and  the  power  of  the  Standing  Committee  in  visiting  and 
superintending  parishes  should  be  superseded,  and  the  same 
should  devolve  upon  the  bishop,  but  that  he  should  be  em- 
powered to  call  upon  any  of  the  members  of  the  standing 
committee  to  assist  him  in  visiting  the  various  parishes.  Thus 
the  bishop  secured  what  he  seems  to  have  so  ardently  desired, 
but  in  its  practical  workings  the  plan  proved  a  dismal  failure. 

This  provision,  probably  peculiar  to  the  diocese  of  Mary- 
land, had  its  origin  in  the  first  and  second  canons,  or  rules, 
ratified  in  the  convention  at  Baltimore,  May  29^  1788,  which 
are  as  follows: 

"I.  At  each  annual  Convention  five  clergymen  on  the  East- 
ern and  the  like  number  on  the  Western  Shore,  shall  be  elected 
and  appointed  as  a  Superintending  Committee;  who  shall  have 

83 


84  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

the  sole  and  exclusive  rights  following,  viz.  To  examine  and 
recommend  candidates  as  well  for  Holy  Orders,  as  for  a  settle- 
ment in  any  parish  in  this  State;  and  likewise  to  superintend 
the  concerns  of  the  Church  in  general,  and  of  parishes  or 
congregations  in  particular,  on  their  respective  shores. 

"II.  The  committee  shall,  by  common  consent  among  them- 
selves, appropriate  to  each  member  a  certain  district  or  num- 
ber of  parishes  for  his  peculiar  superintendence;  which  shall 
be  visited  by  him  at  least  twice  a  year;  at  which  times  the 
visiting  member  shall  apply  to  the  vestries  for  such  informa- 
tion as  the  nature  of  his  duty  may  require;  and  also  advise 
with  them  relative  to  the  best  and  most  effectual  means  for 
improving  the  condition  of  their  parishes,  or  rectifying  any 
misconduct  or  error  that  may  be  worthy  of  notice." 

In  the  convention  of  1789  both  a  superintending  committee 
and  a  standing  committee  were  appointed;  in  1790  the  former 
seems  to  have  been  merged  in  the  latter,  as  only  a  standing 
committee  was  elected,  consisting,  according  to  the  recently 
amended  constitution,  of  six  clergymen  on  the  western,  and 
four  on  the  eastern  shore.  This  act,  by  the  way,  of  electing 
one  member  less  on  the  eastern,  and  one  member  more  on  the 
western  shore,  is  one  of  the  signs  about  this  time  that  grad- 
ually the  western  shore  was  forging  ahead  in  influence,  popu- 
lation and  power. 

This,  in  brief,  is  the  history  of  the  growth  of  the  plan  of 
making  the  standing  committee  a  visiting  committee,  and  it 
was  natural  that  after  the  election  of  a  bishop  the  minds  of 
the  bishop  and  the  convention  should  turn  to  this  committee 
as  an  assistance  in  visiting  the  various  parts  of  the  diocese 
and  in  informing  the  ecclesiastical  authority  of  the  conditions 
there  found. 

In  the  convention  of  1796,  a  canon  was  adopted  empower- 
ing the  bishop  to  allot  to  each  member  of  the  standing  com- 
mittee a  certain  district  to  be  visited ;  and  likewise  to  prescribe 


THE  PLAN  OF  VISITING  MEMBERS  86 

to  him  in  writing  whatever  questions,  respecting  the  conduct 
of  ministers,  the  state  of  religion,  and  the  condition  of  the 
parish  that  he  might  think  requisite  to  lead  him  to  a  sufficient 
knowledge  of  the  state  of  his  diocese.  The  visiting  members 
were  to  lay  these  questions  before  the  vestries,  who  should 
return  direct  answers,  and  these  answers  after  being  turned 
over  to  the  bishop  should  be  laid  before  the  convention,  or 
committee,  as  the  case  might  require. 

The  following  circular  letter  was  sent  by  the  bishop  to  all 
whom  he  appointed  members  of  the  visiting  committee: 
Gentlemen, 

Together  with  this  you  will  receive  a  copy  of  the  Inter- 
rogatories I  have  drawn  up  in  consequence  of  the  Canon 
passed  by  our  last  Convention;  which  I  doubt  not  you  have 
received  from  the  Secretary  of  the  Convention  for  your  in- 
formation &  direction.  These  Interrogatories  are  to  be  pro- 
pounded to  the  different  Rectors  and  Vestries  in  the  Diocese. 
The  object  which  the  Convention  appears  to  have  had  in  view 
in  adopting  this  measure,  is  to  give  a  more  direct  and  energetic 
operation  to  our  Laws  than  they  have  hitherto  had.  You  will 
know.  Gentlemen,  that  good  Laws  are  necessary  to  the  well- 
being  of  every  Society,  &  that  Laws  which  are  not  enforced 
are  a  mere  dead  Letter,  &  that  in  some  Respects  to  have  them 
is  worse  than  to  have  none.  You  will  perceive  that  I  have 
arranged  the  Interrogatories  under  the  different  heads  directed 
by  the  Canon,  &  that  they  have  for  their  basis  the  Constitution 
and  Canons  of  our  Church. 

I  flatter  myself  that  they  will  meet  your  approbation  &  that 
you  will  use  your  utmost  endeavors  to  give  them  the  desired 
effect.  Permit  me  to  recommend  to  you  an  unremitted  exer- 
tion of  your  Powers  in  the  discharge  of  the  important  duties 
of  our  respective  offices.  The  influence  of  rational  Religion 
on  the  interests  of  Society,  the  effects  on  the  eternal  happiness 
of  mankind,  &  the  sacred  obligation  we  have  come  under  all 


86  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

call  loudly  upon  us   (especially  at  this  time)   to  exert  every 
nerve  in  its  service. 

I  trust  therefore  that  your  Zeal  will  be  proportionate  to  the 
magnitude  of  its  Object^  &  I  beg  leave  to  assure  you  of  my 
determined  Resolution  to  co-operate  with  you  to  the  utmost  of 
my  power^  in  promoting  the  Interest  of  our  Church,  &  mani- 
festing my  paternal  regard  for  it — And  also  that  esteem  & 
Respect  with  which  I  have  the  honour  to  be.  Gentlemen, 
Your  affectionate  Diocesan, 

Tho^  Jn°  Claggett. 

These  are  the  questions  propounded  by  the  bishop  in  his 
"Interrogatories,"  mentioned  above: 

QUESTIONS  PROPOSED  TO  THE  VESTRIES. 

Does  your  minister  use  all  diligence  in  performing  divine 
service,  according  to  the  manner  prescribed  in  the  rubric.'' 
And  in  preaching  to  the  people  every  Lord's  Day,  in  the 
Churches  and  chapels  in  your  parish.'' 

Does  your  minister  from  time  to  time,  explain  to  the  people 
the  liturgy  of  the  Church? 

Does  he  baptize  children  in  the  churches  and  chapels,  when 
offered  to  him? 

Does  he  diligently  prepare  children  and  others  for  the  holy 
ordinance  of  confirmation,  by  catechizing  them? 

Does  he  regularly  administer  the  holy  sacrament  of  the 
Lord's  supper  at  least  three  times  in  the  year,  in  each  of  the 
churches  and  chapels  in  your  parish? 

Do  you  believe  him  to  be  careful  not  to  admit  any  improper 
characters  to  the  holy  communion? 

Do  you  know  whether  he  makes  out  and  continues,  an 
exact  register  of  all  the  communicants  and  adults  within  his 
cure ;  and  also  of  the  baptisms,  marriages,  and  funerals,  which 
he  celebrates? 


THE  PLAN  OF  VISITING  MEMBERS  87 

Is  he  always  ready,  as  far  as  you  know,  to  visit  the  sick 
members  of  the  church,  when  he  is  called  on  for  that  purpose  ? 

Do  you  know  or  believe  that  he  is  justly  chargeable  with 
disorderly,  scandalous,  or  immoral  conduct;  such  as  drunken- 
ness, swearing,  lying,  gaming,  and  the  like;  or  with  any  other 
conduct  prohibited  in  the  Canons  and  Constitution  and  the 
17th  canon  of  the  Church  of  Maryland? 

Of  the  State  of  Religion — To  Ministers  Sf  Vestries  Conjointly 

Does  the  number  of  communicants  in  your  parish  increase? 

Do  virtue  and  piety  gain  ground  among  you? 

Has  infidelity  made  any  progress  among  you? 

What  danger  do  you  apprehend  from  it? 

Have  you  had  occasion  to  enforce  discipline? 

Do  you  know  of  any  person  in  your  parish  who  is  prepar- 
ing himself  for  holy  orders? 

Are  any  persons  prepared  for  confirmation? 

Of  the  Condition  of  the  Parish 

What  is  the  number  of  adults? 

Does  it  appear  to  you  to  increase? 

Do  the  other  religious  denominations  gain  ground  among 
you?     And  which  of  them? 

Do  they  increase  in  consequence  of  their  zeal,  or  the  in- 
flux of  strangers? 

Do  union  and  harmony  in  religious  matters  prevail  among 
the  parishioners? 

What  provision  is  made  for  the  minister?  And  from  what 
sources  ? 

What  is  the  annual  amount  of  your  funds?  Do  these  in- 
crease?    And  by  what  means? 

Have  you  tried  the  pew-rent  scheme,  and  with  what  suc- 
cess? Have  you  any  glebe?  Of  what  does  it  consist?  Is  it 
rented?      What   does   it   yield?      In   what   condition   is   your 


88  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

church?  If  the  churches  and  graveyards  are  out  of  repair, 
do  you  not  intend  to  exert  yourselves  for  repairing  them? 

Have  you  a  parish  library?  What  use  is  made  of  it?  Is 
your  parish  very  large?  How  many  places  of  worship?  Is 
there  occasion  for  other  places  of  worship  therein?  Would 
you  prefer  to  have  an  additional  church  under  the  manage- 
ment of  the  vestry?  Or  to  have  the  parish  divided?  Or  to 
have  a  distinct  cure  only? 

Is  there  anything  in  which  the  convention  can  render  you 
assistance?  Do  you  find  any  defects  in  the  Vestry  act?  And 
of  what  nature  are  they?  Has  any  clergyman  in  this,  or  in 
any  other  state,  in  any  respect  behaved  himself  disorderly  in 
your  parish,  or  exercised  his  functions  without  obtaining  con- 
sent from  the  proper  authority? 

To  he  Ashed  in  Vacant  Parishes 
Do  you  desire  to  have  a  minister  settled  with  you?     What 
can  you  raise  for  him  ?    What  mode  will  you  adopt  ? 

Does  any  minister  of  the  Church  visit  you?  Has  any  min- 
ister offered  to  you  his  services  and  who  is  he?  What  answer 
have  you  given  him?  When  do  you  expect  again  to  hear  from 
him?  Will  you  give  notice  to  the  bishop  or  the  visiting  mem- 
ber of  his  future  applications?  Is  there  any  person  in  your 
parish  qualified  to  act  as  reader?  Any  desirous  of  receiving 
confirmation  ? 

To  he  Proposed  to  the  Clergy  Only 
Is  the  vestry  of  your  parish  careful  and  diligent  in  pro- 
curing the  births,  marriages  and  deaths  in  the  parish,  to  be 
entered  in  their  register?  Have  you  complied  with  the  first 
canon  of  the  General  Convention  of  1792?^  Have  you  fur- 
nished the  secretary  of  our  convention,  with  the  amount  of 

^  Every  clergyman  shall  register  his  name  with  the  ecclesiastical  authority 
of  the  diocese. 


THE  PLAN  OF  VISITING  MEMBERS  89 

the  several  registers  required  in  the  1st  and  3rd  canons  of  the 
Church  in  Maryland,  and  15th  of  the  General  Convention  of 

1789? 

Have  you  prepared  any  persons  for  confirmation?  Does 
there  appear  to  you  a  disposition  in  the  vestry  to  receive  a 
visit  from  the  Bishop,  agreeably  to  the  plan  laid  down  in  the 
first  canon  of  the  General  Convention  of  1795? 

In  the  convention  of  1797  the  bishop  delivered  an  address 
which  was  printed  in  the  Journal.  His  remarks  throw  so 
much  light  on  the  working  of  this  scheme,  and  on  the  state 
of  the  diocese  at  the  time,  that  we  quote  rather  fully: 

BISHOP  CLAGGETT'S  CONVENTION  ADDRESS,   1797. 
Reverend  and  Respected  Gentlemen, 

I  beg  leave  to  inform  you,  at  the  opening  of  this  session 
of  convention,  that,  in  consequence  of  a  canon  passed  last 
year,  empowering  the  bishop  to  lay  off  the  diocese  into  as 
many  districts  as  he  thought  proper,  and  to  call  on  some  mem- 
ber of  the  standing  committee,  in  each  district  so  laid  off,  to 
assist  him  in  visiting  the  parishes ;  and  also  to  propound  to  the 
different  vestries  such  interrogatories  respecting  the  conduct 
of  ministers,  the  state  of  religion,  and  the  condition  of  the 
parishes,  as  the  bishop  might  think  proper  to  be  proposed  to 
them ;  and  to  require  direct  answers  to  these  questions  in  writ- 
ing, I  have  laid  off  the  state  into  seven  distinct  districts;  and 
drawn  up  a  number  of  questions  grounded  on  our  constitu- 
tions and  canons,  to  be  proposed  by  the  visiting  members  of 
the  standing  committee.  As  many  copies  of  these  interrog- 
atories were  required,  I  thought  it  best  to  have  them  printed. 
Some  delay  was  occasioned  by  the  printer,  so  that  I  did  not 
obtain  them  until  a  little  before  the  last  session  of  our  Gen- 
eral Assembly;  and  by  some  of  the  members  of  that  body  I 
forwarded  those  intended  for  the  Eastern  Shore;  and  those 


90  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

for  this  shore  I  forwarded  by  the  first  private  conveyances 
that  my  almost  insulated  situation  presented  to  me. 

I  have  been  grieved  to  learn  that,  in  some  instances,  not- 
withstanding all  my  care,  they  have  been  long  on  their  way. 

In  your  future  appointments  of  the  members  of  the  stand- 
ing committee,  it  may  be  of  consequence  for  you  to  know  how 
I  have  divided  the  diocese,  and  what  gentlemen  I  have  com- 
missioned to  assist  me  in  visiting  each  district.  My  duty  also 
calls  upon  me  to  exhibit  to  you  a  copy  of  the  questions  which 
I  was  directed  to  draw  up,  which  I  now  lay  on  your  table, 
and  shall  proceed  to  inform  you  that  I  have  appointed  the 
counties  of  St.  Mary's,  Charles,  Calvert,  and  Prince  George's, 
to  be  the  f,rst  district;  that  I  commissioned  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Walter  Addison  to  be  the  visiting  member  of  the  same;  that 
Mr.  Addison  received  his  commission  willingly,  and  notified 
some,  if  not  all  the  parishes  in  his  district,  of  his  intention  to 
visit  them  on  certain  days ;  that  Mr.  Addison,  previously  to  his 
visitations,  but  too  late  for  me  to  make  any  other  arrangement, 
before  the  meeting  of  this  convention,  changed  his  mind,  and, 
by  letter  addressed  to  me,  resigned  his  commission.  Mr. 
Addison  thinks  his  youth  and  some  other  causes  will  render 
abortive  any  exertions,  that  he  can  make,  in  that  character,  to 
promote  the  interest  of  the  Chyrch  of  Christ. 

The  counties  of  Kent  and  Caroline  I  have  allotted  to  com- 
pose the  second  district,  and  have  commissioned  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Keene  to  preside  therein,  as  visiting  member.  Dr.  Keene  has 
heretofore  discharged  that  important  duty  with  a  scrupulous 
exactness ;  but  he  now  writes  me,  that  being  almost  worn  out 
with  age,  and  laboring  under  a  severe  and  tedious  illness,  from 
which  he  hardly  hopes  ever  to  recover,  he  has  been  disqualified 
to  visit  his  district,  and  he  requests  me  to  appoint  some  other 
gentleman  to  that  office. 

The  third  district  is  composed  of  the  counties  of  Anne 
Arundel   and   Baltimore,   except   St.    James's   parish,   and  is 


THE  PLAN  OF  VISITING  MEMBERS  91 

placed  under  the  superintendence  and  care  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Bend;  who  has  visited  almost  his  entire  district,  and  made 
his  returns  to  me. 

The  fourth  district  consists  of  the  parishes  in  the  counties 
of  Talbot  and  Queen  Anne's;  and  is  under  the  care  of  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Bowie,  who  has  informed  me  by  letter  that  he  has 
been  so  ill  for  many  months  past,  as  to  be,  in  a  great  measure, 
incapacitated  for  performing  even  his  parochial  duties.  He 
has,  however,  visited  a  part  of  his  district,  and  requests  that 
some  other  gentleman,  who  has  better  health,  may  be  ap- 
pointed in  his  room. 

The  fifth  district  comprehends  the  counties  in  Cecil  and 
Harford,  and  St.  James's  in  Baltimore;  and  in  it  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Coleman  is  appointed  the  visiting  member;  who  has  visited  a 
part  of  his  district,  and  made  his  returns. 

The  sixth  district  contains  the  parishes  in  the  counties  of 
Frederick,  Montgomery,  Washington,  and  Alleghany,  and  is 
placed  under  the  superintendence  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Read,  who 
has  informed  me  by  letter,  that  he  shall,  with  alacrity,  do 
everything  in  his  power  to  promote  the  interests  of  the  Church 
in  that  quarter;  but  that  the  tedious  and  dangerous  illness  of 
his  ancient  parent  has  prevented  his  making  a  visitation,  be- 
fore the  meeting  of  this  convention. 

The  seventh  district  comprehends  the  parishes  in  the  coun- 
ties of  Dorchester,  Somerset,  and  Worcester,  in  which  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Kemp  presides,  who  has  fully  discharged  his  duty, 
and  made  his  returns  agreeably  to  the  canon.  As  it  would 
take  up  too  much  of  the  time  of  the  convention,  to  consider  the 
whole  of  the  different  returns  that  have  been  made  to  me,  I 
shall  pay  due  attention  to  them;  and  if  anything  in  them 
appears  to  demand  the  interposition  of  the  standing  com- 
mittee, or  of  the  convention,  I  shall,  as  directed  by  the  canon, 
submit  it  to  their  consideration. 

The  principal  object,  which  the  convention  of  1796  appears 


92  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

to  have  had  in  view,  in  making  this  arrangement,  was  to  give 
direct  efficacy  to  our  rules,  respecting  discipline,  in  a  manner 
more  energetic,  and  less  offensive,  than  any  heretofore  at- 
tempted; and  at  the  same  time,  to  exhibit,  by  the  annual  re- 
turns made  by  the  different  members  of  the  standing  com- 
mittee, a  comprehensive  view  of  the  state  of  the  church,  and 
of  its  interests  temporal  and  spiritual,  for  their  information 
and  direction.  And  should  the  visiting  members  of  the  stand- 
ing committee  be  punctual  in  performing  the  duties  required 
of  them,  and  the  different  vestries  in  the  diocese  heartily  co- 
operate with  them,  I  cannot  but  flatter  myself,  that,  with  the 
divine  blessing,  this  measure  will  be  followed  with  the 
happiest  consequences  to  the  church.^ 

We  fear  the  bishop  may  have  been  tempted  to  take  as  his 
text  for  this  address,  "And  they  all  with  one  consent  began 
to  make  excuse."  Whether  he  had  as  sanguine  expectations 
as  his  words  would  make  it  appear,  we  cannot  say,  but  the 
plan  worked  out  far  differently  than  he  had  evidently  hoped. 

"Whether  they  [the  vestries]  were  thus  called  together  to 
afford  them  an  opportunity  to  complain,"  says  Dr.  Hawks,  "is 
not  declared  in  the  canon;  that  the  temptation  was  a  strong 
one  to  improve  the  opportunity  to  such  a  purpose  is  obvious 
enough;  and  it  is  hardly  to  be  doubted,  that  it  was  so  im- 
proved by  that  class  (of  whom  every  congregation  affords  a 
specimen)  who  unfortunately  think  that  God  and  the  Church 
require  of  them  to  be  much  more  watchful  over  the  clergyman, 
than  they  are  over  their  own  souls.  The  system  was,  with- 
out question,  a  bad  one.  Its  direct  tendency  was  to  produce 
unpleasant  feelings  between  the  parochial  clergy,  and  such  of 
their  brethren  as  were  visitors;  and  also  to  sow  periodically, 
the  seeds  of  a  plentiful  harvest  of  discord  between  ministers 
and  their  flocks. 

"It  is  not  surpising  that  this  scheme  met  with  so  little  coun- 

1  Journal  of  Convention,  1797,  p.  13-16. 


THE  PLAN  OF  VISITING  MEMBERS  93 

tenance  from  the  clergy.  In  addition  to  the  objections  to  it 
already  mentioned,  they  might  have  found  a  good  reason  for 
opposing  it,  in  the  fact  that  it  placed  over  them,  as  an 
ecclesiastical  superior,  in  whose  appointment  they  had  no 
voice,  one,  who  after  all,  was  but  their  equal  in  ministerial 
station;  while,  at  the  same  time,  it  tended  to  lower  the  eleva- 
tion of  the  episcopal  office,  and  certainly  diminished  the  direct 
communication  between  the  bishop  and  the  members  of  the 
Church  throughout  the  diocese."^ 

Unfortunate  and  unsatisfactory  as  this  system  proved,  it 
served  one  good  purpose.  The  reports  that  the  visiting  mem- 
bers submitted  to  their  diocesan  are  of  great  value,  in  that 
they  give  contemporaneous  accounts  and  details  that  probably 
never  would  have  been  preserved  for  us  had  the  bishop  gone 
about  observing  things  at  first  hand.  Not  enough  of  these 
reports  have  been  preserved  to  make  a  connected  history  of 
the  diocese  for  the  years  the  system  was  in  vogue,  but  the 
following  examples  throw  considerable  light  upon  ecclesiasti- 
cal Maryland  in  Bishop  Claggett's  time. 

1  Hawks,  Maryland,  p.  319-321. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

CONTEMPORARY  VIEWS  OP  MARYLAND  PARISHES 

DR.   BEND'S  REPORT  AS  VISITING  MEMBER. 

Balto.,  May,  1796. 
Right  Rev.  &  Dear  Sir, 

As  you  were  not  pleased  to  withdraw,  at  our  last  conven- 
tion, the  confidence  which  you  had  reposed  in  me,  in  com- 
missioning me  to  visit  certain  parishes,  I  proceeded  on  Sunday, 
the  20th  of  June,  1795,  to  visit  St.  Margaret's,  Westminster. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Sykes,  the  Rector,  exchanged  duty  with  me  on 
that  day,  &  I  had  not  an  opportunity  of  conferring  with  him  on 
the  state  of  the  parish.  When  I  arrived  at  the  Chapel,  near 
Curtis's  creek,  where  I  was  to  preach,  I  found  there  three  of 
the  Vestry,  to  whom  I  showed  your  Commission.  From  these 
I  learned  that  the  parishioners  are  not  exemplary  in  attending 
public  worship;  information  which  was  very  strongly  con- 
firmed by  the  desolate  appearance  of  the  Church;  but  that 
nevertheless  the  affairs  of  the  parish  rather  prosper  than  de- 
cline; that  the  vestry  were  out  of  debt,  &  able  to  make  good 
their  engagement  with  their  Minister,  but  that  with  the  best 
intentions,  they  were  not  as  active  as  they  might  be;  that  the 
sectarians  in  the  parish  were  not  very  zealous,  but  that  some 
of  them  had  all  the  illiberality  commonly  attendant  upon  im- 
moderate zeal;  that  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  supper  had 
not  been  administered  in  the  parish,  during  the  short  time  of 
Mr.  Sykes'  ministry,  but  would  soon  be  celebrated,  &  that 
there  had  been  no  preparation  for  confirmation;  &  that  no 
acts  of  discipline  had  been  exercised  since  my  last  visit,  or 
found  necessary. 

There  appeared  to  me  some  few  repairs  necessary  to  be 

94 


VIEWS  OF  MARYLAND  PARISHES  95 

made  to  the  Chapel,  which  the  Vestry  intend  to  have  effected. 
There  is  no  fence  around  the  Church,  &  as  the  parishioners 
almost  universally  bury  at  home  none  is  thought  to  be  re- 
quisite. 

I  was  farther  informed,  that  they  intend  soon  to  present  a 
subscription,  with  a  view  to  raising  in  time,  provision  for  the 
further  maintenance  of  their  Minister;  that  altho'  they  have 
a  register,  he  keeps  no  account  of  baptisms,  marriages  & 
funerals;  that  their  minister  is  very  acceptable  to  the  people 
&  exact  in  the  discharge  of  his  ministerial  duties.  I  gave  the 
gentlemen  a  little  necessary  advice,  &  withdrew  to  celebrate 
public  worship.  This  was  attended  with  becoming  solemnity 
on  the  part  of  the  people;  among  whom  I  was  sorry  to  per- 
ceive no  books. 

Having  agreed  to  exchange  duty  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Oliver 
on  the  19th  of  July,  &  he  wishing  me  to  preach  at  a  Chapel 
in  his  parish,^  I  repaired  thither,  &  preached  on  the  day  ap- 
pointed. The  congregation,  which  was  very  large,  consisted 
of  persons  of  various  denominations.  One  Vestryman  was 
present,  from  whom  I  obtained  the  following  information. 
The  Chapel  was  built  by  the  subscriptions  of  the  parishioners 
&  designed  for  a  Protestant  Episcopal  Church;  but  thro'  some 
mistake,  the  bond  of  conveyance,  instead  of  designating  it 
thus,  barely  mentioned  a  place  of  public  worship;  Hence  it 
was  thought  to  be  the  property  of  no  particular  sect,  but  open 
to  all;  &  it  was  accordingly  treated.  How  far  the  gentleman 
was  right  in  his  information,  I  know  not;  nor  was  I  able  to 
determine,  whether  the  vestry  of  the  parish  could  support  any 
equitable  suit  for  obtaining  the  exclusive  right  in  the  Chapel. 
It  is,  I  think,  a  subject  which  demands  the  attention  of  the 
Convention. 

From  the  same  gentleman  I  learned  that  the  Baptists,  Pres- 
byterians, &  Methodists  were  numerous;  that  they  were  very 

^  St.  Thomas'  (Garrison  Forest),  Baltimore  Comity. 


96  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

zealous  for  their  own  modes  of  faith;  &  were  not  cold  in 
opposing  the  Church;  but  I  did  not  find  that  they  were  very 
much  in  earnest  about  vital  piety.  I  was  sorry  to  hear  that 
the  members  of  the  Church  were  divided  in  religious  senti- 
ments; Calvinistic  opinions  have  been  disseminated  amongst 
them  with  too  much  success.  To  this  it  may  be  ascribed  in  a 
great  degree,  that  they  have  foreborne  to  avail  themselves  of 
the  ministerial  services  of  Mr.  Oliver;  &  to  the  same  cause 
we  may  ascribe  it,  that  the  members  of  the  Church  in  that 
quarter  have  suffered  it  to  be  insinuated,  that  they  have  not 
an  exclusive  right  in  their  little  chapel. 

From  what  I  have  said  you  will  readily  suppose  that  they 
have  no  regular  public  worship.  Sometimes  one,  sometimes 
another,  &  very  seldom  anyone  preaches  to  them.  There  are 
no  communicants  among  them ;  they  have  made  no  preparation 
for  confirmation;  their  children  are  baptized  by  any  minister, 
who  preaches  in  the  neighborhood,  &  some  are  left  without 
baptism.  The  Chapel  was  never  finished,  yet  it  has  stood 
so  long  that  it  wants  repairs.  A  subscription  was  busily 
circulated,  while  I  was  there,  to  raise  money  for  repairing 
&  finishing  the  Chapel,  &  enclosing  their  graveyard,  consist- 
ing of  two  acres.     Few  persons  are  buried  in  it. 

I  was  affectingly  convinced  of  the  little  attachment  they 
have  for  the  Church,  by  the  total  ignorance  which  they 
showed,  as  to  postures;  by  the  total  want  of  prayer-books 
among  them;  and  by  there  being  neither  prayer-book  nor 
bible  in  the  desk.     Pulpit  they  have  none. 

On,  Sunday,  the  6th  of  December,  an  opportunity  was 
aflPorded  me  of  visiting  the  Elkridge  parish.  The  day  was 
fine,  &  I  had  taken  pains  to  have  notice  of  my  intention  to 
preach  considerably  spread;  but  I  had  the  sorrow  to  find 
the  people  in  that  parish  as  much  averse  from  giving  the 
Sunday  to  religious  exercises,  as  any  other  day.  Twice  as 
I  rode  to  the  Church  I  passed  by  negroes  cutting  wood;  in 


VIEWS  OF  MARYLAND  PARISHES  97 

one  case  the  negroes  of  a  wealthy  man  in  that  ancient  settle- 
ment. The  people  in  Queen  Caroline  still  seem,  as  if  they 
desired  to  live  without  God  in  the  world;  &  I  confess  that 
I  see  no  prospect  of  a  change  for  the  better.  It  is  mortifying 
to  encounter  the  heat  of  the  summer  and  the  cold  of  the 
winter  in  a  long  ride  of  17  miles;  to  preach  in  an  empty 
Church,  which  the  very  bats  have  deserted,  &  is  constantly 
nodding  to  its  fall.  I  have  the  testimony  of  my  own  con- 
science that  I  have  used  great  exertions  to  induce  them  to 
raise  the  Church  from  their  ruins,  &  to  settle  a  minister 
among  them,  &  were  there  any  hopes  of  success,  I  would 
cheerfully  continue  my  efforts  to  extricate  them  from  their 
present  disgraceful  state.  I  submit  to  you,  whether  it  will 
not  be  proper  to  leave  them  to  themselves,  till  they  show  in- 
fallible signs  of  contrition  &  reformation.  At  any  rate  I 
must  beg  you  to  release  me  from  the  drudgery  &  heartfelt 
pain  of  visiting  the  parish;  or,  if  it  be  compatible  with  your 
ideas,  to  put,  in  this  case,  some  other  clergyman  in  the  visi- 
tatorial office.  This  is  the  first  time  I  have  thus  expressed 
myself  to  you;  yet  have  I  thought  proper  to  express  myself 
thus  earnestly. 

I  have  since  these  visits,  made  several  fruitless  efforts  to 
visit  again  Queen  Margaret's^  &  St.  Thomas's. 

To  this  representation  I  have  only  to  add,  that  the  state 
of  my  own  parish^  is  flourishing;  &  that  I  hope  soon  to 
call  upon  you  to  consecrate  another  building  to  the  service  of 
God. 

I  remain.  Right  Rev.  &  dear  Sir,  With  due  respect. 

Your  affectionate, 

Joseph  G.  J.  Bend. 

'  He  evidently  means  either  St.  Margaret's  or  Queen  Caroline. 
*  St.  Paul's,  Baltimore. 


98  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

DR.  BEND'S  REPORT  AS  VISITING  MEMBER. 

Balto.  June  7,  1797. 
Right  Rev.  &  Dear  Sir, 

In  obedience  to  your  appointment,  I  set  off,  on  Sunday, 
the  28th  May,  to  visit  the  Third  District  of  Maryland.  I 
preached  on  that  day,  in  the  morning,  at  the  parish  Church 
of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Duke,  Rector  of  St.  Margaret's,  Westminster, 
Anne  Arundel  County.  Mr.  Duke  was  doing  my  duty  in 
this  city;  and  there  was  not  a  Vestryman  or  warden  present. 
I  could  therefore  obtain  no  information  concerning  the  con- 
duct of  the  minister,  or  the  state  of  the  parish.  In  respect 
to  the  former,  his  character  is  known  to  be  irreproachable; 
in  respect  to  the  latter,  I  believe  it  to  be  pretty  much  as 
stated  to  you  in  the  communication  which  I  had  the  honor 
to  address  to  you  last  year. 

Not  knowing  that  I  should  interfere  with  any  established 
usage,  I  had  appointed  to  preach  in  the  afternoon  of  the 
same  day  in  St.  Anne's  Church,  Annapolis.  Upon  this  Rev. 
Mr.  Higginbotham  put  his  negative;  because  it  was  not  cus- 
tomary, &  he  wished  no  innovations  made  in  the  rules  which 
he  observed  with  his  parishioners;  &  because  he  has  refused 
permission  to  yourself  some  time  since  to  preach  in  the 
afternoon  in  his  Church,  I  appointed  to  meet  him  &  his 
Vestry  at  half -past  six  o'clock;  but  as  they  did  not  come, 
prevented  probably  by  something  unforeseen,  &  as  I  had  to 
ride  nine  miles,  I  left  Annapolis  at  7  o'clock,  without  seeing 
them. 

On  Monday,  the  29th,  I  preached  in  All  Hallows,  at  the 
parish  Church.  There  I  found  Rev.  Mr.  Moscross  &  three  of 
the  Vestry.  I  put  to  them  the  questions  prescribed  by  you 
&  received  as  answers  from  the  Vestry,  that  they  did  not  know 
whether  the  minister  explained  to  the  people  the  Liturgy  or 
prepared  children  &  others  for  confirmation,  or  makes  out 
the  necessary  registers;  but  that  he  baptizes  children,  &  regu- 


VIEWS  OF  MARYLAND  PARISHES  99 

larly  administers  the  Lord's  supper;  nor  does  he  admit  to 
the  Sacrament  improper  characters,  or  behave  himself  in  a 
disorderly,  scandalous,  or  immoral  manner. 

From  the  Minister  &  Vestry  conjointly  addressed,  I  learned 
that  the  number  of  communicants  had  increased,  &  that  sev- 
eral persons  had  been  prepared  for  confirmation;  that  they 
knew  no  person  preparing  for  Holy  Orders,  nor  had  they 
had  occasion  to  enforce  discipline;  &  that  as  they  appre- 
hended no  danger  from  infidelity,  so,  on  the  other  hand, 
virtue  &  piety  did  not  seem  to  gain  ground  among  them. 

I  learned  further  that  they  knew  not  the  number  of  adults 
in  the  parish,  although  it  appeared  to  them  to  increase;  that 
other  religious  denominations  do  not  gain  ground;  that  their 
funds,  which  arise  only  from  glebe-rent  &  subscription,  do 
not  increase;  that  there  is  no  occasion  for  other  places  of 
worship  in  the  parish;  there  being  a  free  school,  which  if 
preached  in,  would  supercede  the  necessity;  that  they  had 
not  perceived  any  defects  in  the  Vestry  act;  that  they  knew 
of  nothing  in  which  the  Convention  could  assist  them;  &  that 
there  has  been  no  irregularity  committed  in  the  parish  by 
any  clergyman;  that  harmony  &  union  prevailed  among  the 
parishioners;  that  the  pew  rent  scheme  had  never  been  tried; 
that  they  intend  to  exert  themselves  to  repair  their  Church 
&  inclosures ;  &  that  there  are  the  remains  of  a  parish  library 
scattered  among  the  parishioners;  &  that  their  glebe,  on 
which  there  is  a  house  out  of  repair,  &  which  consists  of 
160  acres,  rents  for  ,£4<1. 

From  the  minister  I  learned  that  the  Vestry  did  not  appear 
very  diligent  about  the  register  required  of  them;  that  he 
himself  had  complied  with  the  first  canon  of  the  G.  Con- 
vention of  1792,  &  furnished  the  Secretary  with  the  amount 
of  the  registers,  which  the  clergy  are  required  to  keep;  that 
he  had  prepared  persons  for  confirmation,  &  that  the  Vestry 
would  have  been  happy  to  have  the  Bishop  long  ago  among 
them. 


100  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

On  Tuesday,  the  30th,  I  preached  at  the  parish  Church 
of  St.  James's  where  I  met  the  Rev.  Mr.  Compton,  the  Rec- 
tor, &  five  Vestrymen.  Many  of  the  questions,  which  I  put, 
could  not  be  answered,  because  of  the  short  time  during  which 
Mr.  C.  had  been  in  the  parish,  &  to  many  such  answers  were 
given,  as  I  have  recorded  above.  The  following  being  dif- 
ferent I  shall  repeat  to  you;  that  the  minister  diligently  per- 
forms his  duty,  that  the  number  of  communicants  is  not  so 
great  as  a  few  years  since,  but  that  virtue  &  piety  are  in- 
creasing at  present;  that  they  have  one  glebe  of  100  acres 
in  the  tenure  of  Mr.  Compton,  &  another  of  515,  surveyed 
for  715,  which  they  rent  for  <£70;  that  they  have  a  subscrip- 
tion of  £5;  &  that  they  have  employed  Counsel  to  sue  for 
the  200  acres  of  land,  out  of  which  they  are  kept;  that 
these  funds  are  rather  greater  than  formerly;  that  they  have 
unsuccessfully  tried  the  pew  rent  scheme;  that  their  small 
library  is  partially  dispersed,  partly  in  the  Vestry-house; 
&  that  certain  defects  in  the  Vestry  act  have  occurred  to 
them,  which  they  formerly  addressed  to  the  Committee  ap- 
pointed to  petition  for  alteration. 

From  Mr.  Compton  I  learned  that  the  Vestry  kept  up  their 
register ;  that  he  had  not  complied  with  the  first  canon  of 
the  G.  C.  of  1792;  that  he  had  sometimes  transmitted  to 
the  Secretary  the  amounts  of  the  registers  required  of  him; 
&  that  the  Vestry  would  be  happy  to  see  the  Bishop  when 
he  himself  should  be  ready  for  them. 

Not  having  yet  been  able  to  visit  Queen  Caroline  Parish, 
I  must  here  subscribe  myself,  &c.,  &c., 

Joseph  G.  J.  Bend. 

DR.  BEND'S  REPORT  AS  VISITING  MEMBER. 
Right  Rev.  &  Dear  Sir,  Balto.,  June  1, 1798. 

On  Friday,  the  11th  of  May,  I  set  ofi"  on  the  Visitation 
of  the  District  committed  to  me,  &  preached  in  St.  Mar- 
garet's, Westminster,  to   a   small   congregation.      There  was 


VIEWS  OF  MARYLAND  PARISHES  101 

not  a  Vestry;  but  from  some  of  the  members  present,  I 
learned,  that  except  the  present  vacancy  of  the  parish,  its 
affairs  were  much  the  same  as  they  were  last  year,  for  an 
account  of  which  I  refer  you  to  my  report  of  last  year. 

On  the  12th  I  preached  in  Queen  Caroline  Parish  to  about 
50  persons;  &  the  Church  being  very  crazy,  we  assembled 
in  the  house  of  Dr.  Coale.  The  same  melancholy  appearance 
still  prevails  in  this  parish.  They  have  no  Vestry;  there 
appears  little  sense  of  religious  obligation  in  the  bulk  of  the 
parishioners;  &  I  see  no  prospect,  that  there  will  ever  be 
another  Church  raised,  &  a  Clergyman  settled  in  the  parish. 

On  the  13th,  I  preached  at  Annapolis,  where  the  congre- 
gation was  by  no  means  proportioned  to  the  size  of  the 
Church.  As  the  Rev.  Mr.  Higginbotham  had  forgotten  to 
convene  his  Vestry,  I  had  no  opportunity  of  learning  pre- 
cisely the  state  of  his  parish;  but  I  believe,  that  the  evils 
which  infest  country  parishes,  prevail  in  a  considerable  degree 
even  in  the  Metropolis. 

On  the  14th,  I  visited  St.  James's,  where  I  found  a  very 
small  congregation.  As  you  had  been  there  so  recently,  I 
only  addressed  to  Mr.  Compton  the  queries  designed  for  the 
Clergy;  &  from  him  I  learned,  in  answer  to  the  5th  question, 
that  the  Vestry  would  probably  send  me  their  quota  towards 
defraying  the  expenses  of  the  Bishop  &  will  always  be  glad 
to  see  him  in  their  parish. 

On  the  15th,  I  preached  to  a  pretty  full  Church  in  All 
Hallows,  which  is  now  vacant.  In  all  other  respects,  the 
parish  is  as  it  was  last  year.  The  Vestry  seem  well  disposed 
&  are  anxious  to  obtain  a  Minister;  for  whom,  they  say,  in- 
cluding the  rent  of  the  glebe,  they  will  be  able  to  raise  at 
least  .£150;  at  the  most  ^200  per  annum. 

I  appointed  the  28th  instant  for  visiting  St.  Thomas's;  but 
the  incessant  rain  on  that  day  prevented  my  going. 

I  remain,  &c.,  &c., 

Joseph  G.  J.  Bend. 


102  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

CONDITION  IN  ST.  PETER'S,  TALBOT  CO.,  FROM  THE 
VISITING  COMMITTEE'S  REPORT,   1797. 

The  Parish  is  large  and  till  lately  we  had  a  Chapel,  but 
as  the  Part  of  the  Parish  in  which  it  stood  would  not  con- 
tribute to  the  support  of  the  Minister,  those  who  did  would 
not  agree  that  he  should  officiate  in  it.  Six  or  seven  years 
back  the  Vestry  hearing  that  it  was  abased  to  vile  purposes, 
adjourned  to  meet  at  it  the  next  Vestry  day  and  advertised  the 
neighborhood  of  the  Meetings, — and  that  if  they  would  con- 
tribute to  keep  it  in  order  and  employ  a  Minister,  both  should 
be  tfone.  The  doors  of  the  Chapel  were  found  to  have  been 
let  stand  open,  &  that  horses  &  cattle  had  sheltered  in  it — 
also  from  Joiner's  Shavings  &  Chips  lying  in  it,  it  was  seen 
that  it  had  been  used  as  a  work-shop.  The  roof  was  in  bad 
condition,  the  walls  much  cracked,  the  windows  broken,  the 
floor  damaged,  but  the  pew  work  in  a  tolerable  good  state 
of  preservation — on  the  pulpit  writen  with  chalk — Alass  poor 
Parson — the  Vestry,  finding  the  Chapel  in  the  order  described, 
and  the  neighbors  not  attending  except  two,  who  said  they 
came  from  mere  Curiosity  &  had  nothing  to  propose,  talked 
about  the  improbability  of  its  being  repaired,  &  again  preached 
in,  and  that  the  inside  work  would  answer  for  one  at  Easton 
(which  a  Subscription  was  then  in  hand  to  procure  the  build- 
ing of)  the  consequence  was  that  in  a  little  time  the  neighbor- 
hood began  to  pull  the  Inside  of  it  to  pieces, — and  parts  of 
it  were  to  be  seen  dispersed  about,  as  covers  for  Goose  Pens 
&  Chicken  Coops,  as  Scaffoldings  for  new  Buildings  &  a 
Store  was  said  to  be  fitted  up  with  Shelves  &c  out  of  it; 
as  soon  as  the  breaking  up  was  known  of,  a  written  complaint 
was  made  to  the  County  Court,  &  by  the  Court  was  delivered 
to  the  Prosecutor — nothing  was  ever  done,  &  at  present  so 
total  destruction  has  been  made,  that  not  the  least  appearance 
of  the  Chapel  remains. 

We  cannot  give  proper  support  to  one  minister,  nor  repair 


VIEWS  OF  MARYLAND  PARISHES  103 

our  Parish  Church.  Divine  service  is  performed  at  Easton 
in  the  Court  House,  &  we  see  no  probability  of  being  able 
to  build  a  Church  or  a  Chapel  there. 

REPORT  OF  VISITOR  TO    ST.  PETER'S,    MONTGOMERY    CO. 
HAGERSTOWN  AND  FREDERICK. 

June  2,  1800, 
Right  Reverend  Sir, 

I  set  out  on  Sunday  the  11th  May  on  a  Visit  thro'  the 
District  assigned  me.  On  the  same  day  I  preached  at  St. 
Peter's  Church  to  a  large  audience,  well  behaved,  except  a 
few.  The  Vestry  informed  me  that  their  Minister,  Mr.  Scott, 
has  behaved  himself  soberly,  discreetly,  &  with  propriety  since 
he  came  into  the  Parish.  His  salary  at  that  Place  85  Ls. 
The  Church  much  in  the  same  state  as  when  you  was  there, 
except  a  Gallery  built  since.  They  informed  me  that  union 
&  harmony,  in  religious  matters  prevailed  among  the  Parish- 
ioners more  than  formerly. 

On  Thursday,  15th,  I  preached  at  Hager's  Town  to  only 
13  Whites,  7  Blacks.  Religion  there  cold,  &  at  a  low  ebb, 
indeed.  Mr.  Bower  informed  me  he  had  given  previous 
notice,  accordingly,  as  I  had  requested  by  letter.  The  Church 
in  the  same  State  as  two  years  ago,  they  have  made  a  begin- 
ning to  inclose  the  Church-yard  with  Post  &  Rail.  The 
Vestry  did  not  attend,  except  one  member,  consequently  no 
Interrogatories  proposed,  Mr.  Bower's  Salary  250  Ls  from 
Pew  rent  and  Subscription. 

On  Sunday,  18th,  preached  at  Frederick  Town  to  a  small 
audience,  mostly  young  men  &  boys.  Religion  there  as  cold 
&  dead,  if  not  more  so,  than  Hager's  Town,  considering  I 
preached  there  on  Sunday,  &  at  H.  Town  on  a  week  day. 
They  have  no  Vestry  there  &  not  likely  to  have  any,  &  I 
believe  was  it  not  for  our  friend,  Mr.  W^illiam  Beall,  the 
Church  w'd  be  extinct  there.     The  house  in  a  most  ruinous 


104  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

state^  &  destitute  of  common  cleanliness.  They  have  repaired 
the  wall  around  the  Church- Yard.  Mr.  Bower  preaches  there 
every  other  Sunday. 

As  to  my  own  Parish,  we  have  a  legal  Vestry  who  attend 
to  their  duty  very  well,  in  most  instances.  But  am  sorry  to 
inform  you  that  our  Churches  are  not  in  so  good  repair  as 
I  could  wish,  and  do  not  know  when  we  shall  have  them 
better.  I  attend  three  Congregations,  which,  generally,  are 
pretty  full  &  devout.  We  have  a  Glebe  that  rents  for  25  Ls 
pr.  annum.  We  have  no  Library,  except  the  Church  books. 
My  salary  very  moderate,  the  exact  sum  I  do  not  know,  the 
Vestry  have  agreed  to  give  me  what  they  can  get  subscribed, 
which  I  believe  will  not  be  immense.  The  District  has  never 
deposited  one  farthing  in  my  hands  for  the  purpose  of  de- 
fraying the  Bishop's  expenses,  except  30/6  that  was  col- 
lected in  St.  Peter's  the  day  I  preached  there,  the  11  May. 
It  appears  to  me,  that  the  visiting  members  are  looked  on 
as  spies  &  in  search  of  money,  which  may  be  the  principal 
cause  I  had  so  few  hearers  in  H.  &  F.  Towns,  as  I  have 
reasons  to  believe  they  expected  collections  were  to  be  made. 

I  find  it  to  be  a  disagreeable  business;  and  as  I  am  ad- 
vanced in  Years,  &  am  obliged  to  attend  to  a  farm  for  the 
support  of  my  Family,  wish  to  resign  the  commission  you 
was  pleased  to  favor  me  with,  and  to  be  no  longer  consid- 
ered as  a  member  of  the  Standing  Committee. 

I  am,  &c.,  &c., 

Thomas  Read. 

REPORT  OF  DR.  KEMP. 

May  10,  1805. 

In   this    [Dorchester]    Parish   they    have    never   chosen   a 

vestry  imder  the  late  act.    Nor  indeed  do  they  pay  any  regard 

to   the   condition   of   their   parish.      The  parish   church   and 

one  of  the  chapels  are  in  a  state  of  ruin.     Still  there  are  a 


VIEWS  OF  MARYLAND  PARISHES  105 

good  many  persons  well  disposed  towards  our  church  and 
when  I  visit  them  I  am  generally  attended  by  considerable 
congregations.  Notwithstanding  the  long  time  that  this  parish 
has  been  without  a  minister  I  have  little  doubt  an  industrious 
and  popular  clergyman  would  be  able  to  retrieve  its  affairs 
and  probably  obtain  a  tolerable  salary.  James  Kemp. 

REPORT  OF  VISITOR  TO  QUEEN  ANNE'S,  KENT  AND 
CECIL  COUNTIES. 

May  16  1808. 

Rt.  Rev'd.  Sir, 

The  want  of  money  to  defray  my  expences  deprives  me 
of  the  pleasure  of  meeting  you  in  Baltimore.  Until  this 
morning  I  cherished  the  hope  of  going;  but  the  last  string 
of  my  bow  is  now  broken  &  I  must  stay  at  home. 

As  I  am  disappointed  in  my  expectation  of  delivering  to 
you  in  person  a  detailed  report  of  the  state  of  the  5th  dis- 
trict, I  take  the  opportunity  of  sending  you  an  abstract  of 
it  by  post. 

Queen  Anne's  County. 

St.  John's  &  Christ-Church  Parishes  are  vacant,  &  have 
been  so  for  many  years.  They  contain  very  few  episcopa- 
lians. The  people  are  divided  between  Nothingonians  and 
Methodists. 

In  St.  Paul's  parish,  the  schism,  which  I  informed  you 
at  Croome,  had  been  made  by  two  Dashiellitish  vestrymen, 
has  been  apparently  healed.  The  vestry  has,  at  a  late  meet- 
ing, unanimously  re-elected  Mr.  Reynolds;  &  he  has  accepted. 
This  minister  appears  to  do  his  duty  faithfully.  The  size 
of  the  congregations  has  considerably  increased  within  two 
years.     The  number  of  communicants  about  30. 

Kent  County. 
In  St.  Paul's  parish  no  change  has  taken  place  since  you 
visited  it  last  summer,  except  the  revival  of  the  associations 


106  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

formerly  established  by  Mr.  Dashiell.  The  inside  of  the 
church  is  still  unfinished.  But  as  soon  as  Buonaparte  takes 
off  our  embargo  the  vestry  will,  I  have  no  doubt,  compleat 
the  work.  The  congregation  is  large  and  respectable.  Com- 
mimicants  about  60.  Mr.  Wilmer  intends  immediately  after 
our  convention  to  remove  to  New  Jersey.  If  you  obtain  Mr. 
Dirnn  &  establish  him  in  this  parish  he  will  I  believe  be 
very  acceptable  to  the  great  body  of  the  people. 

In  Chester  parish  the  vestry  has  withdrawn  the  services 
of  the  rector  from  the  parish  or  country  church,  &  obliged 
him  to  officiate  every  day  in  town.  The  country  church  indeed 
is  much  out  of  order,  &  the  people  around  it  not  much  dis- 
posed to  place  it  in  a  better  condition.  But  I  think  it  wrong 
that  one-half  of  the  parish  should  thus  be  surrendered  to 
the  Methodists  &  the  devil.  Permit  me  to  recommend  that, 
when  you  pass  through  Chestertown  in  June,  you  give  your 
opinion  &  your  advice  on  this  subject  to  some  of  the  vestry- 
men. The  abandonment  of  the  one  church  has  not,  I  am 
told,  sensibly  increased  the  size  of  the  congregation  in  the 
other,  notwithstanding  the  fair  character  &  respectable  talents 
of  the  rector.  This  circumstance  proves  that  this  act  of  the 
vestry  is  very  displeasing  to  the  country  people.  The  asso- 
ciation about  which  Mr.  Wm.  Wilmer  wrote  to  you,  is  now 
under  the  control  of  Dr.  Kewley  who  has  established  a  form 
of  prayer  &  permits  no  person  to  officiate  except  himself.  I 
have  advised  him  to  assemble  the  members  in  the  church, 
instead  of  a  private  house.  As  there  is  now  no  room  for 
the  gratification  of  vanity,  &  the  display  of  spiritual  gifts, 
I  fear  that  the  society  will  not  soon  attain  its  former  eminence. 

Shrewsbury  parish  remains  in  the  torpid  state  to  which 
it  was  reduced  by  the  nonministration  of  Mr.  Wilmer.  In 
this  large  &  populous  parish  there  is  only  one  male,  &  eleven 
female  communicants;  &  not  a  single  person,  male  or  female, 
who  makes  responses  in  church;  though  some  of  the  females 


VIEWS  OF  MARYLAND   PARISHES  107 

still  retain  the  good  old  fashion  of  kneeling  during  the 
prayers.  The  vestry  last  year  raised  nearly  2,000  dollars 
by  lottery  for  the  purpose  of  repairing  the  old  church,  & 
finishing  the  new  chapel.  But  the  money  has  not  been  col- 
lected; &  I  have  hitherto  found  it  impracticable  to  collect 
the  members  of  the  vestry  since  the  last  election.  I  have 
three  times  requested  a  meeting,  but  have  been  as  often  dis- 
appointed. On  next  Saturday  I  shall  see  the  issue  of  another 
attempt.  I  oflSciate  in  this  parish  once  in  three  weeks,  & 
Mr.  W.  Wilmer  twice  in  the  same  period.  As  soon  as  I  shall 
obtain  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  I  shall  urge  them  to  collect 
their  money,  &  commence  the  repairs  of  the  churches.  Until 
this  be  done,  it  would  be  useless  for  them  to  employ  a  minister. 

Cecil  County. 

St.  Stephen's  parish  is,  I  believe,  in  a  better  condition 
than  I  found  it,  &  better  than  you  saw  it  15  years  ago.  But 
it  is  extremely  difficult  to  raise  a  parish  which  has  been  for 
20  years  in  the  hands  of  ignorant  or  profligate  ministers. 
Any  man  in  orders  can  break  down  a  parish.  But  very  few, 
even  of  the  good,  are  capable  of  building  one  up.  The  num- 
ber usually  found  at  church  is  from  one  to  two  hundred. 
The  communicants  only  17.  I  have  reason  to  believe  that  a 
much  larger  number  wishes  to  receive  confirmation. 

St.  Augustine's  parish  has  been  for  many  years  destitute 
of  a  ministry.  It  does  not  contain  more  than  20  episcopal 
families.  The  rest  are  Methodists  and  Painites.  For  7 
or  8  months  in  a  year  I  officiate  in  this  church  once  in  S 
weeks. 

St.  Mary  Anne  parish  is  again  vacant.  Mr.  Hardy  re- 
moved from  it  this  spring  to  Joppa  in  Harford.  He  had 
conducted  himself  in  such  a  manner  as  to  be  greatly  respected 
by  the  people;  and  his  departure  is  much  regretted  by  aU 
serious  persons.     It  was,  however,  necessary  to  go  away,  for 


108  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

his  salary  was  not  equal  to  the  expenses  of  his  family.  Dur- 
ing his  stay  he  had  fully  doubled  the  size  of  the  congre- 
gation at  the  old  parish  church,  &  raised  a  new  one  at 
Battle  Swamp,  a  place  about  15  miles  from  Northeast.  This 
was  done  without  exhibiting  any  sign  of  fanaticism,  without 
violating  any  canon  or  rubric,  without  slandering  the  body 
of  the  clergy,  and  without  preaching  a  single  article  of  the 
new  doctrines. 

I  am  Rt.  Rev'd  Sir  with  great  respect,  &c.,  &c., 

H.  L.  Davis. 

REPORT  OF  THE  REV.  JOHN  COLEMAN. 

Hakford  Cotjntt,  May  16th,  1808 
Right  Rev°  Sir, 

Indisposition  prevented  my  attendance  last  Convention.  It 
was  not  without  difficulty  that  I  attended  in  1806.  But 
unwilling  to  discontinue  or  abate  my  labours,  I  continued 
(tho'  in  great  weakness  and  some  pain)  regularly  to  perform 
my  parochial  duties  till  the  l6th  Nov.  when  I  was  taken 
ill  at  a  Fun'l  on  the  manor  and  was  obliged  to  desist.  From 
experience  I  find  it  would  have  been  better  had  I  stopped 
sooner.  For  near  12  months  I  was  confined  to  my  house 
tho'  not  I  believe  one  whole  day  to  my  bed.  I  appointed  a 
Rector  and  had  some  thoughts  of  resigning  the  rectorship  of 
St.  James'  and  promised  it  to  some  of  the  vestry  who  came 
to  see  me,  but  they  wished  to  wait  at  least  till  the  spring 
hoping  I  would  again  be  able  to  attend.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Allen 
was  kind  enough  to  visit  me  and  both  my  churches  in  the 
time  of  my  affliction. 

Since  I  resigned  the  rectorship  of  St.  James'  in  Dec.  1804 
I  have  divided  my  time  between  St.  James'  and  the  new 
church  called  Christ  Church.  One  of  the  vestry  dying  and 
another  removing  to  Virginia  the  church  is  not  yet  finished. 
We  assemble  in  private  houses  and  I  have  attended  regularly 


VIEWS  OF  MARYLAND  PARISHES  109 

since  last  Septr.  Occasionally  I  have  attended  St.  James' 
and  administered  the  sacrament  twice  since  Nov.  last.  On 
Easter  Sunday  last  I  recommenced  my  usual  attendance  and 
thanks  to  kind  Providence  I  have  been  able  to  attend  regularly 
since  &  perform  the  duties  of  my  office  in  both  churches.  .  .  . 

The  Parish  is  large.  The  congregations  attend  well  and 
behave  decently.  Family  worship  is  set  up  in  some  houses 
but  there  is  too  much  neglect  in  this  duty.  Since  my  entrance 
into  the  parish  more  than  20  years  ago  the  church  has  been 
repaired  several  times,  but  needs  repairs  at  present,  which 
are  contemplated  by  the  vestry  and  might  readily  be  effected 
by  a  combined  effort.  But  contributions  to  the  support  of 
the  church  are  generally  partial  &  fall  upon  a  few.  Cate- 
chising is  not  common.  About  30  have  been  confirmed  some 
years  ago  and  more  are  preparing  for  it. 

The  vestry  act  with  candor  and  friendship  and  pay  punc- 
tually what  they  engage.  The  mode  adopted  is  that  of  sub- 
scription. They  sometimes  raise  £100  but  often  fall  far 
short  of  that  sum  of  which  they  candidly  give  me  due  notice. 
Conventional  requisitions  have  not  been  regularly  attended  to 
but  probably  they  will  be  in  future.  The  congregation  at  the 
new  church  is  small  but  attend  regularly.  It  will  increase 
it  is  presumed  when  the  church  is  finished  and  fully  orga- 
nized. Number  of  adults  not  ascertained.  Communicants 
about  50.  1806.  Baptisms  45.  Marriages  8.  Funerals  12. 
1807.     Baptisms  17.     Mar.  —  Funerals  7. 

The  register  which  I  have  kept  since  I  first  entered  as 
Rector  of  St.  James'  Parish,  the  Baptisms  entered  (including 
those  in  St.  John's  10  years,  St.  Thomas'  5  years  &  7  months 
to  which  I  made  returns  on  resigning  the  rectorship)  are  1818 
Infants  and  adults,  of  which  229  Blacks 

Since  Apl.  1804,  I  have  rec'd  of  the  vestry  of  St.  James' 
£225.  John  Coleman. 


110  LITE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

REPORT  OF  THE  REV.  BENJAMIN  CONTEE. 

[No.  date.  1808  or  '09.] 

The  Visiting  Member  of  the  first  district  of  the  Diocese 
of  Maryland  commends  his  duty  and  high  respects  to  the 
Rt.  Rev.  Thomas  John  Claggett,  D.  D.,  Bishop  of  Mary- 
land, &  begs  leave  to  report:  that  two  out  of  four  of  the 
parishes  in  St.  Mary's  County  are  still  vacant  &  that  there 
appears  to  be  little  or  no  prospect  of  their  being  supplied 
shortly;  that  King  and  Queen  began  a  subscription  for  sup- 
port of  a  minister  last  fall;  but  a  disagreement  among  the 
subscribers  arising  the  attempt  ceased;  that  St.  Andrew's 
does  not  seem  lately  to  have  been  in  any  state  of  activity  to 
concert  measures  to  obtain  a  minister;  that  William  &  Mary 
(St.  Mary's)  is  under  the  Rev.  F.  Barclay's  care  as  its  rec- 
tor; and  that  All  faith  is  filled  by  the  Rev.  G.  Ralph,  who 
intimated  to  the  visiting  member  last  week  that  the  vestry 
and  himself  were  desirous  of  his  being  instituted  as  Rector 
of  All  faith,  which  desire  it  was  his  intention  to  communicate 
&  to  pray  him  to  have  it  carried  into  effect. 

William  &  Mary,  Charles,  is  occupied  by  the  visiting 
member;  &  Trinity  is  under  his  care,  by  convention  between 
the  vestries  of  the  two  parishes.  Rev.  Jno.  Weems  is  still 
the  rector  of  Porto,  parish  but  Durham  parish  imfortunately 
it  is  apprehended  is  yet  without  a  rector.  Some  measures 
were  in  agitation  by  the  Vestry  of  Durham  to  engage  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Duncan  to  be  their  spiritual  guide,  but  they  were 
not  effectuated  when  the  v.  m.  last  had  information  from  that 
parish,  (in  February).  Nothing  has  been  heard  very  lately 
from  Washington  parish,  Columbia,  the  v.  m.  lately  addressed 
the  rector,  enclosing  to  him  a  note  to  the  vestry.  ...  A 
similar  note  was  sent  to  the  vestries  of  the  respective  parishes 
in  the  1st  District  &  on  Sunday  last  the  v.  m.  met  the  vestry 
&  congregation  of  King  and  Queen  at  their  parish  church; 
after  evening  service   and  a  sermon  he  conferred  with  the 


VIEWS  OF  MARYLAND  PARISHES  111 

vestry  who  agreed  to  hold  a  conference  on  the  Thursday  fol- 
lowing on  the  heads  communicated  in  the  note  of  the  v.  m. 
At  present  the  v.  m.  is  uninformed  of  the  result  or  of  what 
has  been  done  by  any  of  the  parishes  in  the  business  of  the 
note  forwarded  to  them,  except  Wm.  &  Mary  which  has 
complied.    All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted  by 

B.   CONTEE. 

THE  REV.  DR.  CONTEE  TO  BISHOP  CLAGGETT. 

Chablbs  CoxnsTTY,  Wednesday,  29th  May,  1811. 
Right  Reverend  Father  in  God: 

A  wish  to  do  the  congregations  some  service,  and  to  pre- 
serve some  of  their  unsupplied  parishes  in  the  privileges  of 
church  membership,  induced  me  to  send  out  several  Notices 
that  my  personal  attendance  would  be  given  in  several  of 
the  vacant  parishes  within  your  Diocese.  And  this  too,  I 
had  no  doubt  would  be  far  from  being  disagreeable  to  you. 
Altho'  an  ill-judged,  perhaps,  repeal  of  the  15th  Can.  of 
the  Convention  of  the  Church  imder  your  immediate  superin- 
tendence had  taken  away  the  power  from  the  Episcopate  of 
inspecting  into  the  condition  of  the  congregations  by  sub- 
stitutionary Functionaries — and  altho'  (in  consequence  of 
the  repeal  of  s^  Can.)  I  have  nothing  now,  in  command  from 
you  on  this  subject.  It  is  a  subject,  I  am  persuaded,  near 
your  heart,  and  I  have  striven  to  promote  it  by  bringing  into 
action  some  of  my  small  Energies;  by  divine  permission,  and 
have  endeavored  with  too  little  success,  to  surmount  the  lan- 
guor I  have  been  so  deplorably  thrown  into.  .  .  . 

Sir,  on  Friday  morning  last  I  went  from  home  to  King 
&  Queen  parish  Church,  19  miles  distant,  to  meet  my  ap- 
pointment there  at  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  to  perform 
evening  prayer  &  dispense  the  sacraments.  This  I  did,  but 
I  was  mortified  to  find  both  fewer  children  brought  forw'd 
and  that  fewer  comm'ts  came  forward  than  I  expected — the 


112  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

number  which  came  to  either  sacrament  did  not  exceed  12 — 
several  of  the  dead  in  the  burial  ground  had  not  had  their 
remains  respected  by  the  sepultural  rite — this  was  also 
solemnized — Hearing  from  some  source  not  necessary  to  de- 
tail here  that  a  vestry  had  not  been  chosen  at  Easter  it  was 
consented  that  I  s'd  give  notice  for  a  meeting  of  the  parish- 
ioners, on  Monday,  in  Whitsunweek,  to  elect  a  vestry  for  the 
current  year.  This  was  done.  I  took  a  further  liberty  of 
urging  the  expediency  of  having  a  lay  delegate  sent  to  the 
approaching  convention  at  Balto,  &  moreover  the  present 
reader  at  that  Church  told  me  he  w'd  go,  if  chosen — this 
information  I  gave  to  one  of  the  last  year's  and  of  the  still 
existing  vestry. 

On  Saturday,  10,  in  the  forenoon,  I  repaired  to  All  Faith 
Church  to  read  prayers  and  to  administer  the  sacraments — 
6  or  8  were  baptized — 40  communicated.  Here  I  saw  the 
reader  who  was  a  communicant  &  intends  to  make  applica- 
tion to  you,  rt.  rev'd  Sir,  for  the  Lay'g  on  of  your  hands 
in  the  holy  ordinance  of  instituting  Deacons.  He  gave  me 
his  letter  to  the  Standing  Committee.  A  Mr.  A.  Keech  was 
likewise  at  this  Church :  having  heard  of  his  intention  to  apply 
for  holy  orders  &  supposing  it  likely  he  w'd  come  to  the 
Sacrament  of  the  blessed  supper — I  asked  if  such  was  his 
intention  &  whether  he  had  ever  before  yielded  this  unequiv- 
ocal Symptom  of  his  cordial  acceptance  of  Xt'  offers  of 
atoning  Mercy — his  answer  to  the  1st  was  in  the  affirmative, 
to  the  last  question  in  the  negative — Wherefore  as  directed 
by  Can:  I  found  it  my  duty  to  ask  other  questions,  tending 
toward  a  knowledge  of  the  impressions  he  was  under  of  the 
solemnity  of  the  duty  about  to  be  engaged  in — after  which 
he  communicated — his  application  was  not  in  a  train  of 
preparation  to  be  forwarded,  but  he  expressed  a  desire  to  com- 
plete it,  in  time  for  the  next  expected  session  of  the  Stand- 
ing Committee.  .  .  . 


VIEWS  OF  MARYLAND  PARISHES  113 

In  the  afternoon,  3  o'clock,  I  reached  Trinity  Chapel, 
Charles  County,  baptized  3  or  4  children  after  prayers,  but 
with  a  small  congregation  &  proceeded  upwards  to  be  neare 
St.  Pauls  in  Prince  George's  County  where  I  appointed  to  be 
Sunday  (10  A.  M.)  Met  there  at  the  hour  on  Sunday  morn- 
ing, went  thro'  the  morning  service,  &  intended  to  baptize 
after  2d  Lesson,  but  there  not  being  any  water  at  hand  post- 
poned it  till  after  Sermon — unexpectedly  I  was  engaged  in 
this  last  service — I  thought  I  had  given  similar  notifications 
to  those  which  had  been  sent  to  the  three  other  before 
mentioned  congregations,  but  it  appeared  I  had  not,  &  I  was 
in  a  measure  compelled  to  adopt  the  poor  amends  of  poor 
preaching,  at  this  last  Church — but  as  a  more  ample  recom- 
pense for  the  fault  of  omitting  to  give  notice  that  on  this 
day  y*  Lord's  Supper  w'd  be  celebrated  here,  I  have  notified 
my  intention,  by  divine  grace,  of  doing  it  there  that  day  3 
weeks.  ...  Y'  aff*  &  true  friend  &  Serv'" 

B.    CONTEE. 


CHAPTER    IX 

THE  BISHOP  AT  WORK 

In  the  year  1803  the  members  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  in  Delaware,  in  annual  convention,  unanimously  re- 
solved that  it  was  their  wish  to  have  the  state  of  Delaware 
added  to  the  diocese  of  the  bishop  of  Maryland,  that  they 
might  have  the  benefit  of  his  episcopal  visitations,  and  also 
resolved  that  when  it  was  deemed  expedient  by  the  Church 
of  Maryland,  their  convention  would  cheerfully  join  in  elect- 
ing a  bishop  for  the  eastern  shore  of  Maryland  and  the 
state  of  Delaware.  The  Rev.  William  Pryce,  of  Trinity 
Church,  Wilmington,  was  appointed  to  carry  this  matter 
before  the  Maryland  Church  at  its  next  convention  to  be  held 
in  Baltimore. 

The  following  year  Mr.  Pryce  reported  to  his  convention 
that  he  had  met  his  Maryland  brethren  in  June  preceding, 
that  he  was  received  with  attention  and  politeness,  but  that 
the  convention  of  that  state  deemed  an  union  of  the  two 
dioceses,  at  that  time,  premature  and  inexpedient.  He  further 
stated  that  he  had  waited  on  Bishop  Claggett,  had  been  re- 
ceived by  him  in  a  very  friendly  and  affectionate  manner, 
and  that  the  bishop  had  promised  to  visit  the  congregations 
to  which  he  might  be  invited  as  often  as  his  extensive  duties, 
ill  health,  and  declining  years  would  permit. 

The  Delaware  convention  thereupon  passed  an  unanimous 
resolution  requesting  the  Bishop  of  Maryland  to  make  their 
churches  a  part  of  his  diocese  and  to  perform  all  such  epis- 
copal duties  as  he  might  deem  conducive  to  the  interests  and 
prosperity  of  the  Church  in  Delaware.  In  1805  the  Delaware 
convention   invited   Bishop    Claggett   to   open   the   next   con- 

114 


THE  BISHOP  AT  WORK  115 

vention  with  a  sermon,  but  he  did  not  do  this,  nor  do  we 
find  that  the  bishop  ever  performed  very  extensive  minis- 
trations in  that  state.  With  advancing  age  and  feeble  health 
he  already  had  a  field  larger  than  he  had  strength  to  ad- 
minister. 

That  Bishop  Claggett  would  gladly  have  assisted  his 
neighboring  brethren  if  he  could  possibly  have  done  so  cannot 
be  doubted  by  those  who  know  his  interest  and  zeal  in  mis- 
sionary enterprises.  We  have  no  earlier  evidence  that  the  face 
of  the  Church  was  turned  toward  the  West  than  in  the  fol- 
lowing interesting  "Testimonium"  of  the  Rev.  William  Duke, 
which  this  gentleman  received  from  the  Maryland  church  in 
1789.  The  paper  is  in  the  handwriting  of  Dr.  Claggett, 
written  three  years  before  he  became  a  bishop. 

THE  REV.  WILLIAM  DUKE'S  TESTIMONIUM. 

To  all  &  every  the  Professors  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  Inhabiting  Kentucky  Government  to  whom  these 
Presents  shall  come. 

The  Convention  of  y®  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  send 
Greeting.  Know  ye  that  we  y*  Convention  of  the  s^  Church 
taking  into  our  serious  Consideration  the  present  State  of  y* 
numerous  Professors  of  our  Religion  in  those  extensive 
Regions  which  lie  beyond  y'  Apelachian  Mountains  destitute  as 
we  understand  they  are,  in  most  Places  of  regular  Ministers 
to  administer  y®  Sacraments  &  preach  y®  word  of  God  as  in  our 
Church;  and  being  anxiously  desirous  as  far  as  we  have 
ability  to  defuse  y®  knowledge  &  worship  of  Almighty  God,  & 
to  promote  rational  Religion,  Virtue  &  Learning  in  y*  World; 
And  whereas  our  well  beloved  Bro"^  in  X'  the  Rev**  Mr.  W° 
Duke  Clerk  has  notified  imto  us  his  laudable  Intention  of 
emigrating  into  that  Country  for  these  great  Purposes  we 
beg  leave  to  recommend  him  the  said  W"  Duke  to  your  favor- 
able Reception  &  to  request  you  to  assist  him  in  y®  Discharge 


116  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

of  his  Office  so  long  as  he  may  continue  among  you  &  we 
do  assure  you  that  he  has  been  regularly  &  canonically  or- 
dained &  y*  he  has  behaved  himself  as  a  good  &  faithful 
Minister  of  y*  Gospel  of  Jesus  X'  as  far  as  has  ever  come 
to  our  knowledge  &  we  verily  believe  him  to  be  well  skilled 
in  Divinity  &  in  y®  Latin,  Greek,  &  Hebrew  Languages. 

In  Testimony  whereof  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hands 
this  —  day  of  June  in  y*  Year  of  our  Lord,  1789-^ 

Duke  set  out  on  this  important  mission,  and  crossed  the 
mountains  beyond  Harper's  Ferry,  but  ill  health  compelled 
him  to  return.  Maryland,  nevertheless,  seems  to  have  been 
the  first  diocese  to  support  a  missionary,  for  as  early  as 
1798  the  Rev.  Samuel  Keene,  Jr.,  was  appointed  missionary 
to  Kentucky,  where  he  labored  successfully  for  a  number  of 
years  until  he  was  obliged  to  return  because  of  ill  health. 
The  results  of  this  good  beginning  were  largely  lost,  for  the 
church  did  not  follow  up  the  work  begun  by  this  worthy  man. 
The  lamentable  state  of  affairs  in  the  next  decade  is  sug- 
gested in  a  letter,  dated  February  14,  1814,  from  the  Rev. 
Daniel  Stephens,  a  Maryland  clergyman,  to  Bishop  Claggett, 
of  which  the  following  is  an  extract: 

"When  we  consider  the  vast  extent  of  territory  and  in- 
creasing population  beyond  the  Alleghany  mountains,  it  must 
grieve  the  heart  of  an  Episcopalian  to  think  that  we  have 
hardly  one  solitary  church  in  all  those  states  and  territories; 
whilst  other  sectaries  are  doing  all  in  their  power  to  prosely- 
tize the  people.  If  only  one  clergyman  could  get  into  some 
of  their  largest  Towns,  he  might  do  much  good,  not  only 
by  preaching,  but  by  disseminating  books.  And  another  good 
method  would  be,  for  some  healthy  young  ministers  to 
itinerate  for  two  or  three  years,  if  they  could  be  supported. 

^  No  reference  to  this  document  is  found  in  the  Journals  of  Convention. 
This  is  most  probably  a  preliminary  draft  from  which  the  final  copy  was 
drawn,  as  the  signatures  are  not  attached,  and  the  composition,  by  its 
erasures  and  insertions,  does  not  appear  likely  to  have  been  the  copy  in- 
tended for  presentation. 


THE  BISHOP  AT  WORK  117 

And  even  if  a  Bishop  could  be  constitutionally  sent,  it  might 
be  of  great  advantage  in  rendering  ordinations,  and  studies 
connected  therewith,  more  easily  obtained.  Our  church  is 
certainly  wanting  in  zeal  on  this  subject.  The  Church  of 
England  has  lately  sent  a  Bishop  to  the  East  Indies,  and 
the  Catholics  have  lately  sent  one  (Mr.  Dubourg  of  Bait.) 
to  New  Orleans;  but  we  have  done  nothing;  our  sheep  in  the 
wilderness  are  wandering  without  a  shepherd,  and  starving 
for  lack  of  knowledge !  There  were  indeed  some  efforts 
made  between  the  years  of  '92  and  '95,  by  the  general  con- 
vention of  New  York  and  Philad.  with  Dr.  Smith  at  their 
head  (which  you  will  recollect)  for  sending  some  itinerant 
ministers  to  the  western  frontier,  but  they  failed  for  want 
of  funds  and  proper  encouragement.  .  .  ." 

In  the  meantime  the  good  bishop  was  striving  zealously 
to  uphold  the  ministrations  of  the  church  in  his  own  diocese, 
and  enlightening  glimpses  of  his  activities  are  to  be  found 
in  certain  extant  journals  and  convention  addresses,  which 
have,  so  far  as  we  know,  not  been  published  heretofore. 

The  following  interesting  account  of  the  bishop's  visita- 
tion on  the  eastern  shore  in  1803  is  taken  from  a  manuscript 
in  the  hand  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Benjamin  Contee,  and  was  un- 
doubtedly composed  by  that  gentleman,  who  was  a  warm 
personal  friend  of  the  bishop,  and  whom  the  latter  enjoyed 
as  a  traveling  companion.  Besides,  it  was  necessary,  owing 
to  the  bishop's  poor  health,  for  some  well-known  and  accep- 
table clergyman  to  accompany  him,  and  to  assist  by  preaching 
on  those  occasions  when  the  bishop's  strength  would  not 
permit  him  to  carry  the  burden  of  the  entire  service. 

JOURNAL  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT'S  VISITATION  TO  THE 
EASTERN  SHORE. 

Easton,  23rd  July,  1803. 
Set  out  from  Croom  on  the  7th  July,   1803,  and  by  ap- 
pointment fell  in  with  B.  Contee  at  Nottingham  on  Patuxent, 


118  LITE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

after  dinner  crossed  the  river  and  proceeded  to  the  house  of 
J.  Chew,  Esqr.  on  the  Bay  side  in  Calvert  county;  lodged 
there  &  and  the  next  day  sent  to  Herring  Bay  to  look  for 
the  arrival  of  Col.  Hadaway's  boat — it  was  there  in  waiting — 
the  indisposition  of  the  Bishop  detained  him  &  Mr.  C.  all  that 
day  at  Mr.  Chew's — early  the  next  morning  took  horse  to  go 
to  the  boat  at  Herring  Bay — missed  of  it,  but  returning  down 
along  the  beach  of  the  Chesapeake  found  the  boat  at  anchor 
near  the  mouth  of  fishing  Creek,  went  on  board  and  made 
sail  for  Hadaway's — arrived  safe — after  dinner  took  the  stage 
for  Easton — got  there  in  the  evening.  On  the  10th  Sunday 
a  new  Church  at  Easton  was  consecrated  by  the  Bishop,  and 
styled  Christ  Church,  the  chapel  of  St.  Peter's  parish  in 
Talbot  county  &  diocese  of  Maryland.  A  confirmation  of 
about  20  persons  was  held. 

Left  Easton  on  Monday  (11th)  arrived  at  Cambridge  in 
Dorchester  County  accompanied  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Kemp  &  Dr. 
Gardiner.  12th  a  confirmation  of  17  persons  was  held  in  the 
Church  at  Cambridge,  a  sermon  in  the  forenoon  by  the  Bishop, 
in  the  afternoon  by  B.  C,  in  the  evening  by  Dr.  Gardiner. 
13th,  accompanied  by  Dr.  Gardiner  and  B.  C.  set  out  for 
Somerset.  Lodged  at  a  Mr.  Dashiell's — ^notice  that  sermon 
&  confirmation  would  be  at  Green  Hill  Church  on  15th.  14th, 
went  to  the  house  of  G.  Robertson,  Esq.,  Wicommico  lower 
ferry,  remained  there  untill  next  day.  Dr.  Gardiner  left  us, 
went  to  Church,  morning  service  by  B.  C,  sermon  by  the 
Bishop — confirmation  of  17  persons,  returned  after  Church 
and  dined  at  Mr.  Robertson's.  Set  out  from  there  early  in 
the  morning  of  l6th.  Breakfasted  at  Princess  Ann,  dined  at 
Mrs.  Jackson's,  Back  Creek,  went  to  Littleton  Dennis's,  Esqr. 
at  Pocomoke  &  lodged.  The  17th  (Sunday)  joined  by  Dr. 
Gardiner,  went  to  Rehoboth  Church,  it  was  consecrated  by  the 
Bishop,  a  sermon  by  him  and  a  confirmation  of  36  persons. 
18th  went  to   Annemesseck   Chapel — sermon  by  the   Bishop 


THE  BISHOP  AT  WORK  119 

and  confirmation  of  20  persons ;  dined  at  Mr.  Conner's,  drank 
tea  at  Mr.  Williams',  lodged  at  Mr.  Dennis's,  ipth,  went  to 
dividing  Creek  Chapel,  sermon  by  the  Bishop,  and  confirma- 
tion of  [number  left  blank]  persons.  Dined  at  Capt.  Waters' 
and  lodged  there.  20th,  went  to  Princess  Ann,  church  there, 
sermon  by  the  Bishop,  &  confirmation  of  70  persons,  dined  at 
Mr.  Tiegles'  crossed  Wicommico  &  lodged  at  Mr.  Robertson's. 
21,  set  out  for  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jackson's  Church,  lodged  at 
Major  Worgaman's  on  Choptank,  crossed  the  river,  on  22nd 
from  his  landing,  arrived  at  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jackson's  Church, 
which  was  consecrated  by  the  title  of  St.  Peter's  Church  in 
St.  Peter's  parish,  Talbot  County,  Diocese  of  Maryland. 
Sermon  by  the  Bishop  and  confirmation  of  21  persons. 

At  all  of  the  before  mentioned  churches  and  chapels  the 
holy  supper  was  administered  except  at  St.  Peter's  Church. 
Went  from  St.  Peter's  to  the  house  of  John  Singleton,  esq., 
lodged  there.  23rd,  after  breakfast  went  to  Easton,  dined 
at  R.  Hammond,  Esqrs.  After  dinner  the  Bishop  accompanied 
by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Barclay  &  Mr.  Hammersly  left  for  Queen 
Anne's  County  on  a  visitation  and  there  B.  C.  with  great 
regret  remained  behind  and  was  impelled  by  the  great  desire 
he  had  to  see  his  family  &  to  return  to  his  duties  in  Wm.  & 
Mary  &  conformably  to  appointment  to  part  with  the  right 
rev.  Dr.  Claggett  and  deny  himself  the  honor  of  accompany- 
ing and  waiting  on  the  Bishop  any  further,  but  it  was  by  the 
Bishop's  permission. 

Before  this  brief  and  imperfect  journal  is  closed  it  will  be 
proper  briefly  to  recite  that  the  Bishop  was  everywhere  re- 
ceived with  great  &  cordial  respect  &  that  his  services  & 
addresses  were  received  and  regarded  with  marked  and  fixed 
attention — the  congregations  were  numerous  at  all  of  the 
churches,  except  Green  Hill,  when  the  notice  was  very  short 
&  the  Rector  absent. 


120  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

The  difficulties  of  travel  and  the  uncertainty  of  meeting 
appointments  can  better  be  appreciated  after  reading  the  fol- 
lowing extract  from  a  letter  in  which  the  bishop  explains  to 
Mr.  Kemp  why  he  failed  to  keep  an  appointment: 

Aknapolis,  Decf  7,  1797. 
Rev''  &  Very  Dear  Sir, 

.  .  .  The  causes  that  have  operated  to  prevent  my  attend- 
ing the  Committee  in  Cambridge  were  these,  viz.  The  boat 
I  had  bespoke  to  carry  me  to  your  house  y*  Thursday  before 
the  intended  meeting  was  driven  from  her  station  near  the 
Clifts  in  Calvert  County  by  a  violent  Gale  of  Wind  w'=" 
happened  the  day  before  &  her  owners  when  I  arrived  there 
on  Thursday  informed  me  they  expected  she  was  lost.  I 
then  sent  my  Serv*  up  the  Bay  in  search  of  a  boat.  He  did 
not  return  until  Saturday;  he  informed  me  he  had  procured 
a  boat  then  lying  in  Herring  Creek  w*  would  sail  with  me  on 
Sunday  morning.  I  rode  up  y*  bay  to  her  &  with  three  negro 
lads  to  navigate  her  I  embarked  on  Sunday  morning  late  we 
had  not  proceeded  far  down  Herring  Bay  before  we  ran 
aground  &  were  there  detained  a  considerable  time,  the  wind 
was  not  fair  &  before  we  could  get  to  the  mouth  of  Herring 
Bay  it  blowed  so  violently  as  to  oblige  me  to  stop.  It  con- 
tinued to  rage  all  the  night  &  y®  next  day — having  then  no 
chance  of  arriving  at  Cambridge  in  time  I  was  obliged  re- 
luctantly to  desist  from  y®  Enterprize.  I  know  you  must  have 
been  much  disappointed  at  my  absence  &  I  sincerely  lament 
it,  but  I  cannot  command  y*  wind  &  y*  waves.  I  must  put  off 
my  intended  visitation  to  your  District  untill  next  Spring  as 
the  time  of  sailing  is  now  hazardous.  .  .  . 

Your  affectionate  friend  &  brother, 

Tho^  Jn°  Claggett. 

It  has  been  thought  strange  that  Bishop  Claggett  settled 
in  the  little  parish  at  Croom,  and  remained  there  the  rest  of 


THE  BISHOP  AT  WORK  121 

his  days,  when  it  would  seem  more  natural  for  the  bishop  of 
the  diocese  to  have  been  the  incumbent  of  one  of  the  more 
prominent  and  influential  city  churches.  The  reason  for  this 
is  most  plainly  set  forth  in  the  bishop's  own  words,  in  a  letter 
to  his  friend.  Dr.  Bend,  Dec.  23,  1805. 

TO  THE  REV.  DR.  BEND. 
".  .  .  .  The  next  thing  in  order  in  your  Letter  (for  I  sup- 
pose you  desire  an  answer  to  y®  whole  of  it)  is  your  kind  in- 
quiries concerning  y®  state  of  my  health.  Your  wishes  that 
I  had  followed  your  former  advice  given  me,  viz.:  had  sold 
some  of  my  unproductive  lands  &  vested  y*  proceeds  in 
Baltimore  &  settled  myself  in  your  City  adding  your  assur- 
ance that  such  a  step  would  have  prolonged  my  life  &  added 
to  y®  respectability  &  comfort  of  it,  you  then  ask  very  em- 
phatically, is  it  too  late  now?  &  immediately  subjoin  a  long 
list  of  candidates  for  y*  present  vacancy  in  your  parish.  Tak- 
ing these  paragraphs  all  together  what  Construction  am  I  to 
put  on  them.''  Does  my  friend  wish  to  see  me  droll  out  a 
useless  &  inactive  existence  in  y®  City  of  Baltimore  while  my 
powers  of  mind  &  body  are  possessed  by  me,  when  laborers 
in  our  Vineyard  are  so  much  wanted.''  Does  he  think  that 
such  a  kind  of  conduct  would  add  to  the  respectability  of  a 
Christian  Bp.  or  to  his  comfort  here  or  hereafter.^  This  can- 
not be  his  meaning.  Does  he  then  wish  me  to  empower  him 
to  add  my  name  to  y®  long  &  very  respectable  list  of  candidates 
w*  he  has  favored  me  with?  No,  certainly,  this  cannot  be 
his  meaning.  He  knows  too  well  what  belongs  to  y*  Episcopal 
Character  to  wish  to  see  a  Bp.  &  the  Bp.  of  his  own  diocese 
too,  electioneering  with  his  own  clergy  either  in  y*  pulpitt  of 
St.  Paul's  Parish  or  in  y®  streets  of  Baltimore.  What  then 
is  his  meaning?  I  am  weary  of  conjectures.  My  friend 
must  desire  to  have  me  near  him:  he  must  wish  too  that  I  may 
somehow  or  other  be  employed  in  y*  duties  of  my  sacred  call- 


122  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

ing  or  else  I  cannot  see  how  my  residence  in  Baltimore  could 
possibly  add  to  my  respectability  or  contribute  to  my  comfort. 
But  how  that  is  to  be  eiFected  I  know  not.  It  is  painful  to 
me  to  recur  to  past  scenes,  but  it  seems  necessary  in  this  case 
that  I  should  do  it.  Two  vacancies  have  occurred  in  St.  Paul's 
Parish  Baltimore  since  I  filled  y*  Episcopal  chair:  possessed 
with  y*  Idea  that  I  could  render  greater  service  to  y*  Church 
of  Maryland  at  large  if  situated  there  than  in  any  other  part 
of  my  diocese  &  that  I  could  render  at  least  equal  service  to 
y*  parish  with  any  other  gentleman,  I  felt  it  my  duty  on  both 
these  occasions  to  let  the  existing  Vestry  of  that  parish  know 
y*  although  I  never  would  sully  y®  high  Commission  I  had 
received  by  entering  y®  list  as  in  an  electioneering  contest  yet 
if  the  associated  rectorship  was  respectfully  offered  to  me  by 
them  I  would  gladly  accept  of  it,  &  I  dare  say  that  you  Sir 
will  understand  that  in  case  of  y'  event  I  was  willing  to  share 
all  y*  labours  of  y*  parish  &  all  its  emoluments  too,  of  what 
nature  or  kind  soever,  equally  with  you.  But  notwithstand- 
ing all  this  I  was  passed  over  in  silence,  I  hope  to  y®  no  small 
benefit  of  y®  parish  itself  &  of  y®  Church  at  large  &  with  y* 
plaudits  of  the  consciences  of  y*  Vestries  of  St.  Paul's.  Thus 
foiled  in  both  instances,  I  believe  by  this  principle  only,  & 
still  retaining  the  opinion  that  I  would  be  more  use  to  the 
Church  in  the  city  than  in  this  retired  corner  of  the  world,  I 
made  another  attempt  afterwards  to  fix  myself  in  y*  new 
City  of  Washington,  thinking  it  might  in  time  answer  y*  pur- 
pose, but  after  a  great  deal  of  trouble  had  in  forming  a  new 
parish  there  &  just  as  it  was  compleat'd  two  of  my  pretended 
clerical  friends  stepped  in,  struck  up  a  quarrel  between  them- 
selves, brought  on  an  electioneering  contest  for  y®  Rectorship 
(in  w**  they  well  knew  I  would  take  no  part)  &  by  so  doing 
defeated  my  views,  &  ruined  y*  parish,  or  at  least  greatly  in- 
jured it.  Since  then  I  have  set  myself  down  contentedly  here 
at  Croom,  endeavoring  to  do  what  little  good  I  can  assured 


THE  BISHOP  AT  WORK  123 

that  y*  great  Disposer  of  all  events  can  never  will  that  I 
should  do  ill,  that  good  may  come  of  it.  After  these  repeated 
unsuccessful  trials  I  have  all  y"  reason  in  y®  world  to  suppose 
that  my  principles,  if  retain'd  will  consign  me  to  y®  peaceful 
shades  of  Croom  untill  it  shall  please  God  to  translate  me 
from  these  tempestuous  scenes  (I  hope)  to  another  &  better 
world,  &  that  I  shall  retain  these  principles  to  y®  end  of  my 
life,  God  being  my  helper,  is  certain." 

The  bishop's  life,  during  these  years,  was  especially  full 
of  difficulties  and  perplexities.  There  never  was  a  greater 
need  for  ministers  of  the  gospel,  and  there  never  was  a  greater 
dearth  of  them.  Dr.  Tiffany  states  that  at  this  time  nearly 
half  the  parishes  in  Maryland  and  Delaware  were  vacant. 
The  bishop,  writing  to  Dr.  Bend  in  1805,  says: 

"I  suppose  you  will  see  Mr.  Linde  &  I  request  you  to  in- 
form him  that  I  am  well  pleased  to  hear  of  any  Gentlemen 
of  character  coming  forward  into  our  ministry  as  we  are 
really  in  great  want  of  faithful  laborers  in  our  vineyard,  there 
being  at  present  a  great  number  of  vacancies  among  our 
Churches.  The  Vestry  of  St.  Paul's  Q.  Ann's  have  long  ago 
applied  to  me  to  send  them  a  Rector,  salary  about  £200  a  year. 
The  Vestry  of  All  Hallows,  A.  A.  have  by  one  of  their  body 
done  the  same,  salary  about  3  or  400  Doll"  including  y®  Glebe. 
The  Vestry  of  St.  Paul's,  Kent  have  also  done  y*  same,  salary 
400  Dollars.  The  Vestry  of  Shrewsbury,  Kent  have  also  ap- 
plied to  me  very  lately  for  a  Rector,  salary  450  DoP.  The 
Vestry  of  Emmanuel,^  Allegany  have  also  applied  to  me, 
salary  300  Dollars  besides  y*  County  school  w''*'  they  say  the 
Rector  may  have  if  he  chooses  it  &  is  capable  of  teaching  it, 
the  salary  of  which  is  800  Dollars  a  j^ear.  Besides  these  I 
am  sorry  to  say  there  are  a  number  of  other  vacancies  in  y* 
Diocese  y®  Vestries  of  w*  having  adopted  I  presume  y* 
fashionable  mode  of  engaging  &  discharging  their  Rectors 
ad  libitum." 

^  At  Cumberland,  western  Maryland. 


124  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

When  rectors  were  found  they  were  not  always  satisfactory. 
Several  times  grave  charges  of  immorality  were  brought 
against  various  clergymen,  backbiting  and  slander  were  ram- 
pant, especially  during  the  closing  years  of  the  bishop's  life, 
and  an  unwholesome  spirit  of  rivalry  was  plainly  manifest 
between  the  factions  into  which  the  Church  was  unfortunately 
divided. 

A  Maryland  clergymen,  the  Rev.  George  Ralph,  had  been 
charged  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gardiner,  of  the  eastern  shore,  of 
stealing,  drunkenness,  gambling,  and  we  know  not  what  else. 
Surely  very  serious  charges,  but  Mr.  Ralph  fortunately  suc- 
ceeded in  freeing  himself  of  all  aspersions  against  his  good 
name,  and  showed  clearly  that  the  charges  had  been  brought 
against  him  in  order  to  render  him  ineligible  for  a  parish  in 
Virginia  for  which  Mr.  Gardiner  was  also  a  candidate.  We 
do  not  wish  to  bring  the  quarrel  back  to  life;  we  trust  that 
died  at  least  with  the  contestants,  but  the  following  extract 
goes  to  show  how  trying  and  exasperating  were  some  of  the 
cases  in  which  the  bishop  had  to  be  involved. 

Extract  from  a  letter  of  Bishop  Claggett  to  the  Rev.  George 
Ralph,  without  place  or  date,  but  probably  written  from 
Croom  about  1806. 

"I  have  now  nearly  completed  the  39th  yr  of  my  ministry, 
mindful  of  our  Blessed  Sav.  commands  to  his  apostles,  &  thro 
them  to  us,  I  have  always  endeavored  to  live  in  peace  &  love 
with  my  Bre"  &  I  thank  God  I  have  never  as  yet  had  one 
public  quarrel  with  any  of  my  Bre**  of  the  Clergy  &  I  should 
be  very  sorry  that  the  first  thing  of  the  sort  should  happen 
with  you;  on  the  contrary  I  regret  that  I  am  obliged  to  say 
that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gardiner,  since  my  acquaintance  with  him 
about  six  or  seven  years  ago,  has  resided  in  five  different  states, 
and  he  has  scarcely  (I  believe)  ever  yet  left  one  of  those 
states  without  convulsing  the   Church  in  it  by  some  publick 


THE  BISHOP  AT  WORK  125 

dispute  with  his  Bre".  He  professes  to  be  a  disciple  of  the 
meek  and  holy  Jesus  but  how  he  reconciles  this  conduct  with 
His  precept  I  am  at  a  loss  to  conjecture.  When  I  first  knew 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Gardiner  he  was  a  resident  of  the  State  of  New 
York;  there  he  had  a  terrible  public  quarrel  with  Bp.  Moore 
in  w'''*  several  of  his  Presbyters  were  involved  to  the  no  small 
injury  of  that  Church.  He  next  settled  himself  for  about  a 
year  in  New  Jersey;  there  too  he  had  a  most  bitter  Quarrel 
with  Dr.  Ogden  at  that  time  Bp.  elect  of  that  Church.  In 
his  transit  from  Jersey  he  stopped  a  while  in  the  state  of 
Delaware;  in  this  Church  they  had  no  Bishop  for  him  to 
quarrel  with,  but  he  himself  has  told  me  of  a  very  acrimonious 
dispute  which  he  had  with  Bp.  White;  whether  it  happened 
while  he  resided  in  Delaware  or  not  he  did  not  inform  me. 
He  next  obtained  the  rectory  of  Coventry  Parish  in  this  state, 
without  my  interference  or  knowledge  here  he  continued  for 
three  or  four  years,  &  when  I  heard  that  he  was  about  to  quit 
this  Diocese  without  aiming  any  of  those  shafts  at  me  w*  had 
been  leveled  at  so  many  of  my  Bre°  in  office  before,  I  began 
to  felicitate  myself  on  the  occasion.  But  alas !  I  now  fear 
that  I  was  reckoning  without  my  host  &  that  Mr.  Gardiner  is 
determined  to  set  you  &  me  by  the  ears,  or  to  quarrel  with  me 
himself." 

For  the  first  few  years  of  the  nineteenth  century  affairs  in 
the  Maryland  Church  were  at  a  very  low  ebb.  Conditions, 
however,  began  to  improve  about  1807;  the  Vestry  Act  of 
1799  had,  as  we  have  seen,  placed  church  property  in  a 
securer  position;  several  long-vacant  parishes,  were  placed  in 
charge  of  clergymen  of  neighboring  parishes,  who  ministered 
as  often  as  possible,  at  the  direction  of  the  bishop,  and  who 
were  sometimes  assisted  by  very  able  and  interested  lay  read- 
ers; and  efforts  were  made  to  raise  the  standard  in  the  clergy 
by   directing  the  bishop   to  withdraw  his   licence  to  preach 


126  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

from  any  deacon,  who  having  been  in  the  diaconate  three 
years,  had  taken  no  steps  toward  procuring  priest's  orders; 
and  the  meeting  of  the  General  Convention  in  Baltimore,  in 
1808,  doubtless  had  the  effect  of  arousing  some  of  the  latent 
forces  and  causing  the  laity  especially  to  pay  more  attention 
to  churchly  affairs. 


CHAPTER  X 

THE  CONVENTION  OF  1808  AND  WAR  OF  1812 

The  General  Convention  of  1804,  meeting  in  New  York, 
unanimously  voted  to  hold  the  next  convention,  that  of  1808, 
in  the  city  of  Baltimore.  Bishop  Parker,  of  Massachusetts, 
was  appointed  to  preach  the  convention  sermon,  but  before 
the  appointment  could  be  met  he  had  departed  this  life. 
Therefore  Bishop  White,  the  presiding  bishop,  wrote  to 
Bishop  Claggett  shortly  before  the  date  of  the  convention  re- 
questing him  to  see  that  a  preacher  for  that  occasion  was 
provided. 

BISHOP  WHITE  TO  BISHOP  CLAGGETT. 

PmLAD^  Ap.  19,  1808. 
Rt.  Rev'd  &  Dear  Sir, 

I  am  sure  you  will  have  the  goodness  to  excuse  my  writing 
to  you  on  the  following  subject,  in  whatever  point  of  view 
the  Matter  may  appear  to  you. 

You  must  have  observed  on  the  Journal  of  the  last  General 
Convention  that  Bishop  Parker  was  requested  to  open  the 
ensuing  Convention  with  a  sermon.  That  Bishop,  no  Doubt 
much  to  your  Grief  as  to  mine,  is  since  deceased.  What  I 
have  to  propose  to  you  is  that  as  the  Convention  is  to  be  in 
Maryland,  you  would  take  order,  that  it  may  not  open  without 
a  Sermon.  Whatever  pertains  either  to  (word  missing)  or  to 
decorum  has  been  always  held  to  fall  within  the  province  of 
the  Bp.  &  the  Clergy  of  the  State  in  which  the  meeting  is  to 
be  held.  And  that  the  question  of  who  shall  be  the  Preacher 
is  become  of  that  Description  seems  to  me  very  evident.  Per- 
haps I  may  proceed  a  step  further  &  give  my  Opinion,  that 
if  there  should  be  any  Difficulty  about  the  Sermon  the  obvious 

127 


128  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

Remedy  is  the  Bishop's  Preaching  himself,  and  even  that  this 
may  best  be  resolved  on,  in  order  to  prevent  that  Difficulty. 

Perhaps  I  might  hesitate  to  propose  to  you  this  Measure, 
were  it  not  observable  on  our  Journals,  that  you  have  always 
put  it  out  of  the  Power  of  any  Convention  to  ask  you  to  open 
the  next  by  going  away  before  the  former  closed.  Either 
your  Reasons  were  sufficient,  or  they  were  not.  In  the  former 
Case,  you  will  have  an  opportunity  of  showing  that  you  are 
above  the  taking  of  an  advantage.  In  the  latter  Case  you 
may  be  considered  as  making  the  "Amende  honorable." 

I  take  the  Liberty  of  recommending  this  Matter  to  your 
Consideration  and  am  Your  aff**  Brother, 

Wm.  White. 

TO  BISHOP  WHITE. 

Croom,  April  25,  1808. 
Rt.  Rev°  &  Dear  Sir, 

Your  letter  of  y*  19th  of  this  month  reached  me  yesterday 
when  extended  on  my  back  under  a  fitful  Paroxysm  of  my 
Gouty  Complaint  &  I  seize  this  little  mitigation  of  pain  to 
inform  you  that  thus  circumstanced  it  is  not  in  my  power  to 
comply  with  your  Request,  the  time  before  y®  meeting  of 
Convention  is  short,  my  pains  are  too  great  to  admit  of  my 
setting  up  long  together  much  more  of  writing  a  Sermon  in 
my  present  Condition  &  if  I  had  one  ready  composed  I  much 
doubt  (unless  I  should  be  much  better  than  I  have  been  for 
weeks  past)  whether  I  shall  be  able  to  attend  y®  Convention 
at  Baltimore  or  not  nor  do  I  expect  that  our  Clergy  there  will 
think  themselves  authorized  to  provide  a  preacher  for  that 
occasion.  I  dare  say  that  following  y®  examples  already  set 
them  they  will  do  the  best  they  can  to  accommodate  y*  Con- 
vention in  temporal  matters,  but  as  y®  Rule  of  our  Convention 
with  respect  to  y®  appointment  of  a  Preacher  to  open  y®  next 
is  either  to  appoint  one  itself  or  to  request  their  President  to 
preach  on  that  occasion  or  to  nominate  one  of  his  Clergy  to  do 


CONVENTION  OF  1808  AND  WAR  OF  1812  129 

it  for  him,  this  being  our  rule  I  am  very  much  inclined  to 
suppose  that  they  will  run  into  y*  same  error  &  conclude  that 
as  by  y  death  of  y®  Rev.  Dr.  Parker  there  is  now  no  person 
living  authorized  by  y*  General  Convention  to  open  y*  ensuing 
Session  y'  business  will  of  course  devolve  on  y®  President  of 
y*  House  of  Bishops  or  on  such  Gentlemen  as  he  may  think 
proper  to  appoint  &  I  think  they  will  y®  more  incline  to  this 
opinion  when  they  observe  y*  matters  of  much  more  con- 
sequence are  committed  to  him  by  that  body  to  be  transacted 
if  need  require  in  its  recess. 

In  this  point  of  view  I  have  all  along  taken  the  matter  & 
in  this  view  I  return  you  my  thanks  for  y*  honour  extended 
me  &  am  truly  sorry  y*  y*  ill  state  of  my  health  prevents  my 
complying  with  your  wishes,  or  indeed  at  this  late  hour  taking 
any  steps  in  y®  business  with  my  clergy  in  y®  City  of  Balti- 
more &  I  give  you  this  notice  of  these  things  that  I  may  not 
be  blamed  for  matters  that  I  am  not  at  present  in  a  situation 
to  transact  and  moreover  do  not  suppose  that  if  y®  want  should 
happen  &  y*  next  Session  of  y®  General  Convention  be  obliged 
to  open  with  prayer  without  y®  usual  Proem  it  will  lose  nothing 
of  dignity  or  usefulness  thereby.  And  here  I  would  wish  to 
close  my  letter,  but  that  y*  Dilemma  at  y®  end  of  yours,  in 
which  my  conduct  in  leaving  former  General  Conventions 
before  it  rose  seems  to  require  some  apology  for  being  fixed 
between  the  horns  of  this  formidable  agreement.  I  cannot 
possibly  avoid  Scylla  without  falling  on  Charybdis.  The 
facts  I  beg  leave  to  state  by  way  of  apology  are  these:  1st. 
The  Church  of  Maryland  having  always  supposed  that  she 
had  controlling  power  over  all  her  members  whether  present 
in  Convention  or  absent  has  often  appointed  absent  clergy- 
men to  open  y®  next  Convention  &  been  obeyed;  and  as  I 
knew  of  no  rule  or  usage  of  the  Gen^  Convention,  to  y*  con- 
trary I  did  suppose  heretofore  that  y®  House  of  Bishops  in 
General  Convention  possessed  y*  same  power.     2ndly.     I  can 


130  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

truly  say  that  for  9  or  10  years  past  I  have  not  been  clear 
of  bodily  pain  for  a  single  day,  and  that  it  has  often  been 
very  violent;  Srdly.  You  will  recollect,  my  dear  Sir,  without 
referring  to  y*  Journals  of  Convention  that  there  has  as  yet 
been  no  Session  of  that  body  since  I  have  been  in  Bishop's 
orders  nearer  to  me  than  your  city:  the  fatigue  of  y®  journey 
there  or  to  some  other  Church  has  always  so  disordered  me  y* 
after  getting  over  y*  important  business  of  y*  Session  I  was 
desirous  of  returning  to  y*  bosom  of  my  family  where  most 
sick  people  wish  to  be,  without  one  thought  that  I  can  recollect 
about  y*  appointment  of  y®  next  Preacher:  it  is  true  for  now 
almost  17  years  I  have  seen  my  juniors  in  office  called  to  that 
honour  without  envy  (Rest  of  the  letter  is  lacking).  .  . 

[Tho^  Jn°  Claggett] 

According  to  its  plan  the  General  Convention  met  at  Balti- 
more, May  17-26,  1808.  On  the  Journal  appear  the  names 
of  14  clerical  and  13  lay  deputies  and  two  bishops,  White,  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  Claggett,  of  Maryland.  The  states  of 
Rhode  Island,  Connecticut,  New  York,  New  Jersey,  Pennsyl- 
vania, Delaware  and  Maryland  were  represented  by  delegates. 
No  state  south  of  Maryland  was  represented,  which  is  a 
commentary  on  the  condition  of  the  Church  in  those  sections. 
South  Carolina,  however,  elected  a  delegation  of  two  clerical 
and  two  lay  members  but  none  of  them  attended.  In  an 
appendix  to  the  Journal  a  list  of  the  clergy  in  the  various 
states  is  given.  Under  "Virginia"  is  the  note,  "No  list  of  the 
clergy  was  received  from  this  state."  North  Carolina  is  not 
mentioned.  Fourteen  clergymen  are  reported  as  resident  in 
South  Carolina,  and  a  list  is  given  of  1 1  vacant  parishes  in  the 
state,  "most  of  them  able  and  willing  to  support  ministers." 
Maryland  is  reported  as  possessing  one  bishop  and  38  clergy- 
men, several  of  whom,  however,  were  non-parochial.  No  other 
state  is  reported  to  have  as  many  clergymen  as  Maryland. 


CONVENTION  OF  1808  AND  WAR  OF  1812  131 

The  House  of  Bishops,  consisting  of  Bishops  White  and 
Claggett,  met  for  their  first  session  in  St.  Paul's  Church  on 
the  forenoon  of  Tuesday,  May  17.  Accepting  the  invitation 
of  Dr.  Bend,  the  bishops  held  their  subsequent  sessions  in  the 
rectory  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  They  appointed  the  Rev.  Dr. 
James  Whitehead,  associate  rector  of  St.  Paul's,  as  their 
secretary,  received  word  from  Dr.  Bend  that  the  House  of 
Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies  was  organized  and  ready  for  busi- 
ness, and  returned  word  that  "this  house  are  also  ready  to 
proceed  to  business."  The  story  is  told  that  one  day  during 
the  convention  the  House  of  Deputies  sent  a  messenger  to 
the  House  of  Bishops,  who  rapped  at  the  door  of  Dr.  Bend's 
study,  and  received  a  unanimous  summons  from  the  House  of 
Bishops  to  come  in.  Upon  entering,  the  House  of  Bishops 
was  discovered  in  session,  the  members  cosily  toasting  their 
feet  before  an  open  fire,  as  the  day  was  damp  and  chilly,  and 
between  them  was  a  small  stand  with  glasses  and  some  form 
of  liquid  refreshment  which  the  rector  of  St.  Paul's  had 
thoughtfully  provided  for  their  material  comfort. 

The  Convention  Sermon  was  preached  by  Bishop  White. 
Little  of  vital  interest  to  the  Church  and  nothing  that  con- 
cerns a  relation  of  Bishop  Claggett's  life  was  effected  at  this 
convention.  Before  adjournment  the  House  of  Deputies 
named  New  Haven,  Connecticut,  as  the  place  of  the  next 
General  Convention,  and,  agreeably  to  the  constitution,  the 
third  Tuesday  of  May,  1811,  as  the  time,  and  passed  a  resolu- 
tion that  Bishop  Claggett  be  requested  to  preach  the  opening 
'  sermon.  Bishop  Claggett,  however,  did  not  attend.  He  set 
out  from  Croom  for  New  Haven,  but  physical  weakness  com- 
pelled him  to  turn  back,  and  again  a  General  Convention  was 
only  attended  by  two  bishops   of  the   Church,  this  time  the 

venerable    and    ever-present    White,    of    Pennsylvania,    and 
Jarvis,  of  Connecticut.    At  the  New  Haven  convention  Bishop 

Claggett  was  again  appointed  to  open  the  next  convention 


132  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

with  a  sermon,  which  convention  was  appointed  to  meet  in 
Philadelphia,  in  1814.  But  the  time  found  Bishop  Claggett 
very  ill,  much  too  ill  to  attend  to  duties  even  nearer  home. 

Bishop  Claggett's  episcopal  acts  beyond  the  boundaries  of 
his  diocese  were  few,  considering  the  length  of  his  episcopate, 
owing  to  the  unfortunate  state  of  his  health.  In  company 
with  Bishops  White,  Provoost  and  Madison,  he  participated 
in  the  consecration  of  Robert  Smith,  as  first  bishop  of  South 
Carolina,  in  Christ  Church,  Philadelphia,  on  Sunday,  Septem- 
ber 13,  1795,  the  General  Convention  then  being  in  session. 
On  May  7,  1797,  he  assisted  at  the  consecration  of  Edward 
Bass,  as  first  bishop  of  Massachusetts,  the  other  officiating 
bishops  being  White  and  Provoost.  Such  was  the  lack  of 
information  regarding  their  fellow-churchmen  in  those  days 
of  difficult  communication  that  the  committee  in  charge  of 
Bass'  consecration  arrangements  wrote  to  Bishop  White  from 
Boston,  "We  have  taken  the  liberty  to  enclose  our  letter  to 
the  Bishop  of  Maryland  in  yours,  as  not  knowing  the  place 
of  his  Residence,  nor  the  readiest  mode  of  conveyance,  re- 
questing at  the  same  [time]  the  favour  of  an  Answer  as  soon 
as  possible  &  that  you  will  take  the  trouble  to  convey  the 
Letter  to  him  &  solicit  his  Answer."^  Claggett  also  assisted 
in  the  consecration  of  Bass'  successor,  Samuel  Parker,  who 
was  consecrated  in  Trinity  Church,  New  York,  September  14, 
1804,  during  a  session  of  the  General  Convention,  the  other 
consecrators  being  White,  Jarvis  and  Moore.  Parker  un- 
fortunately lived  less  than  three  months  after  his  consecration. 
In  company  with  White  and  Jarvis,  Claggett  assisted  at  the 
consecration  of  Benjamin  Moore,  as  bishop-coadjutor  of  New 
York,  at  the  meeting  of  the  General  Convention,  at  Trenton, 
September  11,  1801. 

In  1812  he  was  invited  to  assist  in  the  consecration  of 
Theodore  Dehon,  rector  of  Trinity  Church,  Newport,  R.  I., 

^  Addison,  Life  and  Times  of  Edward  Bass,  p.  302. 


CONVENTION  OF  1808  AND   WAR  OF   1812  133 

to  be  bishop  of  South  Carolina,  but  owing  again  to  the  state 
of  his  health  he  was  compelled  to  decline,  as  seen  from  the 
following  letter: 

THE  REV.  THEODORE  DEHON  TO  BISHOP  CLAGGETT. 

Newport,  R.  Island,  15  Sept.,  1812. 
Right  Rev.  and  Dear  Sir, 

Your  letter,  in  answer  to  one  I  addressed  to  you  from 
Philadelphia,  came  safely  to  my  hands.  For  the  obliging  ex- 
pression of  your  desire,  if  it  were  not  for  the  state  of  your 
health,  to  be  at  Philadelphia  on  the  occasion  of  my  consecra- 
tion I  pray  you  to  accept  my  very  sincere  thanks.  It  caused 
me.  Sir,  no  little  regret,  to  hear  of  the  afflictive  disease,  &  of 
those  infirmities  of  age,  on  account  of  which  you  request  that 
application  should  be  made  to  some  one  of  the  other  Bishops 
to  attend  on  that  occasion.  While  the  causes  that  will  with- 
hold you  from  us  are  greatly  lamented  by  me,  with  the  reasons 
you  have  assigned,  why  you  feel  unable  to  be  with  us,  I  cannot 
but  be  fully  satisfied.  Bishop  Hobart,  I  presume,  will  be 
obtained  to  go  from  New  York,  or  Bishop  Griswold  from  this 
state,  to  operate  with  Bishop  White,  &  Bishop  Jarvis — And 
should  you  hear  nothing  further  from  me  on  the  subject  you 
will  believe  that  arrangements  have  been  made  for  accom- 
plishing this  business,  agreeably  to  your  wishes.  Should  there 
be  occasion  to  recur  to  your  very  kind  assurance,  that  you 
would  endeavor  to  get  to  Philadelphia  in  case  of  necessity 
(of  which  I  do  not  perceive  at  present  any  possibility)  you 
shall  hear  of  it  in  good  season. 

Permit  me,  in  closing  this  letter  to  offer  my  hearty  wishes 
for  the  amendment  of  your  health,  &  comfort  of  your  life; 
&  to  add  an  assurance  of  the  high  respect  and  regard  of, 
Right  Rev.  &  Dear  Sir, 

Your  Affectionate  Brother, 

Theodore  Dehon. 


134  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

In  October^  1815,  as  the  following  letter  shows,  Claggett 
was  invited  to  assist  at  the  consecration  of  John  Croes,  as 
bishop  of  New  Jersey,  who  was  consecrated  in  St.  Peter's 
Church,  Philadelphia,  on  November  19,  1815.  Bishop 
Claggett  did  not  attend,  this  time  apparently  not  because  of 
ill  health,  but  because  of  previous  engagements,  but  Bishop 
Kemp,  the  recently  elected  suffragan  bishop  of  Maryland,  was 
one  of  the  consecrators. 

TO  BISHOP  KEMP. 

St.  James  Pakish,  Nov''  1,  1815. 
Right  Rev.  &  Very  Dear  Sir, 

I  set  out  yesterday  on  a  visitation  to  some  of  y*  Parishes 

in  Annarundel  &  Calv*  Counties,  where  notices  had  been  given 

of  my  intention  to  visit  them;  on  my  way  here  I  called   (as 

I  came  through  Marlbro')  at  y*  post  office,  &  there  I  received 

a  letter  from  y®  Rev.  Mr.  Rudd  of  Eliza*^  Town  New  Jersey 

requesting  my  attendance  at  Philadelphia  on  Sunday  y'  12th 

of  NoV  next,  or  if  it  should  not  be  convenient  for  at  least 

one  of  the  Bps.  of  Maryland  to  attend  on  that  day,  then  y® 

following  Sunday,  Nov'  y®  ipth  is  proposed.     This  Letter  of 

y*  Rev.  Mr.  Rudd's  is  dated  y*  l6th  of  October,  &  has  been 

so  long  on  its  passage  that  I  fear  it  is  now  too  late  for  me 

to  write  to  y®  Rev.  Mr.  Rudd  to  endeavor  to  have  y*  meeting 

at  Philadelphia  postponed  until  y*   ipth,  &  as  appointments 

are  made,  &  notice  given  of  my  intention  to  visit  different 

parishes  here,  w"^  I  am  bound  to  fulfil.     I  can  not  now  return 

home  in  time  to  get  to  Philadelphia  by  y®  12th  of  this  month. 

If  I  had  received  Mr.  Rudd's  Letter  a  few  days  sooner  than 

I  did  I  should  have  been  happy  to  have  rendered  y®  Ch*^**  of 

New  Jersey  y*  service  required,  &  to  have  seen  my  worthy 

friends  who  will  assemble  on  y*  occasion  mentioned,  once  more 

at  least;  but  circumstanced  as  the  letter  found  me,  I  must 

forego  this  satisfaction  as  also  that  of  accompanying  you  to 


CONVENTION  OF  1808  AND  WAR  OF  1812  135 

Philadelphia  &  you  will  be  pleased  to  remember  me  aiFection- 
ately  to  our  Rt,  Rev.  &  Rev.  Bren.  in  Philadelphia  &  believe 
me  to  be.  Your  aflPectionate  brother, 

Tho^  Jn°  Claggett. 

On  Dec.  27,  1802,  in  the  chapel  of  St.  Paul's  Parish  church. 
Prince  George's  County,  Claggett  ordained  to  the  priesthood 
William  Murray  Stone,  a  native  and  lifelong  resident  of  the 
Eastern  shore,  who  was  destined  to  be  the  third  bishop  of 
Maryland,  and  on  January  29,  1814,  in  St.  Paul's  Church, 
Alexandria,  Virginia,  he  ordained  to  the  priesthood  William 
Meade,  who  became  the  third  bishop  of  Virginia. 

A  period  of  considerable  hopefulness  sprang  up  about  1806 
and  '07  and  for  the  next  five  or  six  years  there  was  evidence 
of  some  growth  and  promise  of  more.  Into  this  hopeful 
period  rudely  broke  the  war  of  1812,  scattering  many  families, 
bringing  increased  financial  hardship,  rendering  communica- 
tion and  travel  difficult  and  hazardous,  and  distracting  atten- 
tion from  important  parish  duties  of  both  clergy  and  laity. 
The  following  letter,  descriptive  of  war  conditions  in  St. 
Mary's  County,  southern  Maryland,  was  written  by  the  Rev. 
Joseph  Jackson  to  Dr.  Kemp. 

THE  REV.  JOSEPH  JACKSON  TO  DR.  JAMES  KEMP. 

Aug.  14,  1814. 
Rev.  &  Dear  Sir, 

.  .  .  We  can  command,  as  you  must  conceive,  but  little  of 
our  time  here,  &  can,  in  truth,  call  nothing  our  own.  Every- 
thing we  have,  belonging  to  earth  (life  not  excepted)  is  at 
the  disposal  of  the  enemy,  under  the  control  only  of 
Omnipotence.  Our  Government  does  for  us  exactly  what  was 
to  be  expected,  precisely  nothing.  There  is  no  refuge  from 
impending  terrors,  but  in  the  hopes  presented  by  our  holy 
religion.     These,  it  is  true,  are  very  sufficient  for  the  main 


136  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

purposes  of  an  earthly  pilgrimage;  but  in  a  state  of  civilized 
society,  &  as  we  proudly  talk,  of  civil  liberty,  we  are  ac- 
customed to  look  for  more,  we  are  accustomed  to  look  for 
some  refreshments  in  this  vale  of  tears.  Thanks  be  to  God, 
there  are  some  things,  &  those  the  very  best,  the  only  good, 
which  neither  our  own,  nor  a  foreign  government  can  take 
from  us:  &  those  we  can  possess  in  St.  Mary's. 

You  know  what  I  have  long  predicted  to  you,  the  loss  of 
my  parishioners.  My  prediction  is  indeed  painfully  verifying 
every  day.  Several  are  lost  or  as  good  as  lost  already.  Dr. 
Tabbs,  who  was  my  nearest  acquaintance  of  the  agreeable 
kind,  has  moved  his  furniture  to  Georgetown,  &  sent  his 
negroes  mostly  into  Washington  County.  Dr.  Thomas  intends 
moving  the  instant  he  can  accomplish  it.  Indeed,  who  does 
not.''  Take  a  sample  of  our  situation  from  the  following  fact: 
This  week  being  my  week  for  officiating  at  a  private  house  in 
the  lowest  part  of  the  County,  I  proceeded  a  day  or  two  be- 
forehand, as  having  many  catechetical  exercises  to  examine, 
&  believing  that  the  British,  who  stood  well  up  the  River, 
were  on  their  way  to  visit  Mr.  Madison.  This  was  the  1st 
inst.  The  next  day,  Tuesday,  the  wind  being  favorable  down 
the  Potomac,  the  British  had  availed  themselves  of  it,  &  in 
the  evening  a  little  before  sunset,  whilst  I  was  at  tea  with  a 
worthy  family  within  about  three  miles  of  Point  Look-out, 
word  was  brought  by  one  of  the  young  men,  who  had  been 
upon  the  shore,  that  a  British  Ship  &  Brig  were  in  sight.  The 
gentleman  of  the  house  and  I  immediately  walked  to  the 
River  side,  whence  we  saw,  surely  enough,  the  Albion  &  a 
brig.  We  waited  till  four  other  Ships,  with  Schooners,  ap- 
peared below  St.  George's  Island.  They  appeared  to  form  a 
line  on  the  Virginia  side,  &  the  Albion,  we  thought,  came  to 
an  anchor  before  we  left  the  Shore.  We  concluded  that  they 
were  either  intending  downwards,  to  the  Islands  which  they 
have  fortified,  or  to  make  a  landing  in  Virg*  the  next  morning. 


CONVENTION  OF  1808  AND  WAR  OF  1812  137 

This  was  our  deliberate  opinion;  but  before  we  reached  the 
house  in  returning,  we  were  met  by  a  neighboring  gentleman 
who  offered  a  different  opinion — that  they  would  land  &  sweep 
this  part  of  St.  Mary's  again.  The  women,  we  found,  had 
caught  the  impression  from  him.  Presently  another  &  another 
brought  in  the  same  opinion: — deducing  it  from  the  peculiar 
firing  heard  from  the  British  both  in  the  Patuxent  &  Potomac 
that  day  &  the  day  before.  The  hour  of  prayer  approaching 
we  committed  ourselves  &  all  things  belonging  to  us,  to  the 
Divine  keeping,  &  soon  afterwards  retired.  I  had  scarcely 
fallen  asleep,  when  a  young  man,  related  to  the  family,  &  an 
occasional  inmate,  came  into  my  room  to  pick  up  the  residue 
of  his  clothes;  telling  me  that  he  had  heard  more  frightful 
things  of  British  plundering  (up  the  Potomac)  than  ever. 
Being  under  the  impression  that  they  had  not  spent  the  day 
merely  in  sailing  down  the  river,  I  asked  him  whether  he  had 
heard  of  their  landing  anywhere.  He  said  that  he  had  just 
understood  that  25  Barges  went  ashore  in  the  forenoon  within 
a  few  miles  of  the  Glebe.  Learning  from  him  that  the 
neighborhood  was  in  a  general  commotion,  &  that  stock  & 
negroes  were  moving  towards  the  forest,  seeing  of  course  no 
prospect  of  a  large  congregation  the  next  day,  &  considering 
what  must  be  the  situation  of  my  mother  &  my  small  family, 
I  concluded  to  set  out  for  home  instantly  (about  20  miles 
remote) .  Taking  leave  of  the  family  &  giving  them  my  advice 
&  blessing,  I  commenced  an  interesting  &  effecting  ride.  The 
women  were  standing  or  walking  at  their  doors,  whilst  the 
men  were  gone  out  on  guard.  Stock  &  negroes  I  also  foimd 
upon  the  road.  The  sadness  of  the  occasion  was  enlightened 
as  much  as  might  be,  by  the  brightness  of  the  moon, — how 
serene  and  gracious  is  Heaven,  while  man  is  intent  on  his  own 
misery,  or  that  of  his  neighbour!  After  calling  at  different 
places,  and  speaking  to  this  person  &  that,  I  reached  home  a 
little  before  sun-rise  &  found  throu'  Divine  goodness,  that  no 


138  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

disturbance  had  come  nigh,  beside  that  of  fear.  The  British 
upon  landing  had  taken  a  different  direction.  Yesterday 
morning,  by  the  time  I  reached  home,  I  could  hear  the  British 
firing  on  the  Virg*  side,  &  it  seems  that  several  smokes  were 
seen,  as  of  burning  houses.  The  firing  continued  nearly  all 
day,  &  some  after  dark.  No  farther  alarm  that  I  have  heard 
of  on  our  side  was  given,  but  by  a  company  from  the  Patuxent, 
who  came  it  seems,  yesterday  afternoon,  six  miles,  or  up- 
wards, &  took  a  man  whom  I  had  married  last  winter  to  his 
third  wife,  from  his  own  house,  &  carried  him  on  board  their 
vessel,  or  to  their  encampment,  till  they  should  be  put  in 
possession  of  a  negro  woman  belonging  to  him,  who  is  wife 
to  a  fellow  that  had  eloped  to  them.  Judge  of  our  situa- 
tion! .  .  . 

Joseph  Jackson. 

Leaving  the  terrified  country  people  of  St.  Mary's  County 
for  more  peaceful  scenes,  we  find  Bishop  Claggett  delivering 
to  his  diocesan  convention  of  the  preceding  year,  1813,  an 
account  of  his  official  acts  since  their  last  meeting,  which, 
although  not  of  prime  importance,  gives  us  brief  and  inform- 
ing pictures  of  church  conditions  at  that  time.  Several  of 
these  "Notitia,"  as  the  bishop  called  them,  were  printed  in 
the  Journals  of  Convention.  Only  a  short  summary  of  this 
of  1813  was  printed  in  the  Journal,  which  is  our  reason  for 
choosing  it  as  a  fair  sample  of  them  all. 

BISHOP  CLAGGETT'S  NOTITIA  TO  THE  CONVENTION  OF  1813. 

"On  Trinity  Sunday,  May  the  24th  (1812)  the  Bp.  held  a 
confirmation  in  St.  Paul's  Church,  City  of  Baltimore,  &  con- 
firmed there  32  persons — on  his  return  home  on  tuesday  y*  26th 
of  May  he  admitted  y®  Rev*^  Mr.  John  Chandler,  formerly 
ordained  a  Deacon  by  y®  Right  Rev^  Bp.  White  to  Priests 
Orders  in  Christ  Church  Queen  Caroline  Parish  in  Annarun- 


CONVENTION  OF  1808  AND  WAR  OF  1812  139 

del  County — on  this  occasion  y®  Congregation  was  large  & 
apparently  devout. 

On  Thursday  y*  18th  of  June  following  y*  Bp.  visited 
Queen  Anns  Parish  Ch''''  preached  there  to  a  large  congrega- 
tion, this  parish  had  been  for  some  time  vacant  by  y*  Resigna- 
tion of  y*  Rev.  Mr.  Scott,  it  had  no  Vestry  at  y®  time;  y'  Bp. 
exhorted  y®  Parishioners  to  elect  a  Vestry  &  to  endeavor  to 
procure  a  Minister — On  y*  6th  of  July  the  Bp.  Licenced  Dr. 
Sam^  Hanson  to  read  in  Durham  Parish  Charles  Co.  then 
vacant  by  y*  Resignation  of  y°  Rev.  Mr.  Duncan. 

On  Thursday  y*  15th  of  this  month  y*  Bp.  admitted  y*  Rev" 
M'  Ninde  to  Priests  Orders  in  Queen  Ann's  Parish  Church — 
the  congregation  assembled  on  y**  occasion  was  large  &  y* 
Rev.  Mr.  Dashiell  preached — &  y®  next  day  Friday  Bp.  con- 
secrated his  own  Parish  Church,  in  the  Town  of  Upp.  Marlbro 
by  the  name  of  Trinity  Church,  &  y®  Rev.  Dr.  Contee 
preached  y®  consecration  sermon  to  a  large  congregation — on 
y*  same  day  y®  Bp.  licenced  Mr.  George  Lemmon  a  Candidate 
for  Holy  Orders  to  read  in  y®  vacant  Parishes  near  y®  City 
of  Baltimore. 

On  the  28th  of  y®  same  month  Mr.  Tho'  Horrel  of  Calvert 
Co.  notified  y*  Bp.  of  his  intention  to  offer  himself  a  candidate 
for  Holy  Orders  &  by  request  y®  Bp.  licenced  him  to  read  in 
some  of  y*  Rev*^  Mr.  Handy's  Churches  on  those  Simdays 
when  he  should  be  absent. 

On  Friday  y®  14th  of  August  y*  Bp.  visited  All  Sts.  Parish 
Church  Calv*  Co.  the  day  proved  rainy  but  still  there  was  a 
good  congregation  &  four  Persons  were  confirmed  y®  Bp. 
preached  to  them  &  delivered  an  address  to  y®  Confirmed.  On 
Sunday  the  l6th  of  this  month  y*  Bp.  visited  Christ  Church 
Parish  in  Calvert  Co.  y®  Rev.  Mr.  Handy  Rector,  this  day 
was  more  rainy  than  y®  last  friday  &  y®  Congregation  much 
smaller  on  that  account  than  it  would  otherwise  have  been, 
but  still  y*  Bp.  preached  &  confirmed  27  persons. 


140  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

On  the  20th  of  Sep'  following  being  one  of  y*  Ember  ap- 
pointed by  y*  Ch*^*^  for  admitting  Candidates  to  Holy  Orders 
y*  Bp.  held  a  general  Ordination  in  Trinity  Church  Upper 
Marlbro  &  ordained  y*  Rev.  Messrs  Thos.  Bayne  &  Noble  • 
Young  Deacons,  y®  Rev^  Mr.  McCormick  preached  y®  ordina- 
tion Sermon  &  y*  Rev.  Mr,  Addison  preached  in  y®  Eve- 
ning of  that  day.  Mr.  Young  has  been  settled  in  Durham 
Parish  Charles  Co.  &  Mr.  Bayne  at  y®  request  of  y®  Vestry 
y*  Bp.  has  charged  with  y®  important  Cure  of  St.  Peter's 
Parish  Talbot  Co. 

On  y*  6th  of  Oct.  y®  Bp.  set  out  on  a  visitation  to  upper 
parts  of  Eastern  Shore  &  on  y®  9th  of  that  Month  preached 
in  y*  Chapel  of  St.  Peter's  parish  in  the  Town  of  Easton  & 
on  y*  day  following  (Sunday)  preached  at  y®  Parish  Church 
at  y®  White  (word  missing)  &  administered  y®  Sacrament 
there.  As  y®  Parish  was  vacant  there  was  no  Confirmation  in 
either  of  these  Churches,  the  Congregations  at  each  of  them 
were  very  orderly  &  apparently  devout  &  y®  communion  pretty 
large;  at  y®  Request  of  y®  Vestry  y®  Bp.  sent  to  them  y®  Rev'' 
Mr.  Bayne  to  take  charge  of  y®  Parish  &  he  has  heard  since 
that  he  is  favorably  received  &  kindly  treated  by  this  regular 
&  well  disposed  parish. 

On  y®  13th  the  Bp.  visited  St.  Paul's  Parish  Ch*=''  Queen 
Anne's  Co.  Preached  &  Confirmed  9  Persons.  The  Rev"'  Mr. 
Stevens  is  Rector  of  this  Parish,  the  Congregation  was  but 
small,  but  respectable.  On  Thursday  y®  Bp.  visited  Chester 
Parish  Ch**  in  Chester  Town  Kent  Co.  &  Confirmed  9  Persons. 
The  Rev^  Mr.  Turner  is  Rector  of  this  Parish  &  also  of  St. 
Paul's  in  this  Co.  in  the  Parish  Ch**  of  which  Parish  the 
Bp.  preached  on  Sunday  y*  18th  &  in  the  evening  crossed  y" 
Bay  from  Rock  Hall  to  Annapolis  &  on  Monday  y®  19th 
Preached  there  to  a  respectable  Congregation  &  Confirmed  19 
Persons — The  Rev''  Mr.  Ninde  is  Rector  of  this  Parish. 

On  y®  23rd  of  this  month  y*  Honourable  judge  Key  having 


CONVENTION  OF  1808  AND  WAR  OF  1812  141 

removed  from  King  &  Queen  Parish  St.  Mary's  Co.  &  declined 
to  officiate  there  as  a  Reader  y®  Bp.  at  y*  request  of  y*  Vestry 

granted  Licence  to  Mr. Candidate  for  Holy  Orders  to 

officiate  as  a  Reader  in  y®  said  Parish  of  King  &  Queen.  On 
Sunday  y*  3rd  of  Nov.  y^  Bp.  visited  Durham  Parish  Ch*"  in 
Charles  Co.  y®  day  proved  rainy,  y*  Bp.  attended  at  y"  Parish 
Ch*'''  but  had  no  Congregation  he  stayed  in  y*  Parish  &  at- 
tended again  on  y®  Wednesday  following  when  y"  House  was 
pretty  full  &  he  preached  to  them  &  Confirmed  20  persons. 

On  Sunday  y*  22d  of  Nov'  y*  Bp.  visited  Sion  Parish  in 
Montgomery  Co.  &  preached  to  a  large  &  well  ordered  Con- 
gregation of  Christians  &  Confirmed  45  Persons.  This 
Church  appeared  in  a  flourishing  condition. 

On  Sunday  y*  28th  of  March  your  Bp.  by  request  of  y* 
ministers  of  St.  Paul's  &  Fairfax  Churches  in  the  City  of 
Alexandria,  Diocese  of  Virginia,  now  vacant,  preached  in 
y®  forenoon  of  that  day  in  St.  Paul's  Ch*  to  a  very  large 
Congregation  &  Confirmed  70  Persons  &  y*  afternoon  he 
preached  again  in  Fairfax  Ch*  to  another  large  Congregation 
&  was  highly  gratified  by  observing  y®  good  order,  harmony 
&  temperate  zeal  w*^**  appeared  to  prevail  in  these  Churches. 
The  Rev"^  Mr.  Wm.  H.  Wilmer  &  y*  Rev^  Mr.  Meade  were 
y®  Rectors  of  these  Churches. 

On  Easter  Sunday  y*  Bp.  held  a  Confirmation  in  his  own 
Ch*  in  Upp'  Marlbro,  &  Confirmed  8  Persons  several  of 
whom  he  admitted  to  y®  Holy  Sacrament  of  y"  Eucharist 
y®  same  day  w*  increased  his  number  of  Communicants  to 
about  45. 

On  Sunday  y*  2d  of  May  last  y®  Bp.  visited  All  Sts.  Parish 
Church  in  Frederick  Town;  the  Congregation  was  large  & 
attentive,  y®  Bp.  preached  to  them  &  Confirmed  about  50 
Persons  among  whom  were  several  of  y®  more  respectable 
Inhabitants  of  that  Town  &  its  Vicinity  &  some  from  Vir- 
ginia &  others  from  remote  parts  of  their  state;  there  appears 


142  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

to  be  a  considerable  zeal  for  Religion  &  y®  interest  of  y®  Church 
excited  at  this  time  in  this  Congregation  they  are  building  an 
elegant  new  brick  Ch*^**  in  this  Town ;  the  walls  are  constructed 
in  a  very  handsome  stile  &  it  is  already  covered  in.  In  the 
evening  y®  Rev*^  Mr.  Bower  the  Rector  preached  to  a  good 
Congregation.  The  next  day  y*  Bp.  set  out  for  St.  Marks 
Parish  on  y®  Maryland  Tract  in  Frederick  Co.  in  company 
with  y*  Rev*^  Mr.  Bower,  Rector  also  of  this  Parish,  &  on 
tuesday  y®  4th  he  attended  with  that  Gentleman  in  y®  a.  m. 
at  y®  Parish  Church  where  they  found  but  8  or  10  persons 
assembled,  who  were  desired  by  y®  Rector  to  notify  as  many 
of  y*  Parishioners  as  they  conveniently  could  that  y®  Bp. 
would  attend  at  y®  Ch*^**  again  on  y**  Wednesday  following 
w"**  he  did;  y®  Congregation  was  not  half  as  large  as  it  would 
have  been  had  y®  Notice  been  a  general  one;  but  still  y*  Ch*** 
was  pretty  full  &  y®  Bp.  preached  to  them  &  confirmed  about 
S6  Persons.  This  Ch*^^  appears  to  be  flourishing  &  attentive 
to  y®  duties  of  Religion.  On  his  return  home  on  Sunday  y" 
9th  y®  Bp.  preached  in  Georgetown  in  y*  forenoon  for  y® 
Rev.  Mr.  Addison  to  a  large  Congregation  &  in  y®  afternoon 
of  that  day  in  y®  City  of  Washington  for  y®  Rev*^  Mr.  Mc- 
Cormick. 

On  y*  14th  day  of  May  y®  Bp.  ordained  y*  Rev.  Mr.  Purnel 
F.  Smith  a  Deacon  in  Trinity  Ch*  Upper  Marlbro  &  sent 
him  to  officiate  in  St.  James  Parish  A.  A.  Co.  vacant  by  y® 
death  of  y®  late  Rev*^  Mr.  Compton. 

The  Bp.  has  a  satisfaction  in  stating  to  y®  Convention  that 
he  has  not  been  under  y®  painful  necessity  of  suspending  or 
degrading  any  of  his  Clergy  this  Year.  He  has  however, 
incumbent  on  him  y®  sorrowful  Duty  of  imparting  to  them 
y*  Death  of  the  late  worthy  secretary  of  y®  Convention  y* 
Rev^  Joseph  G.  J.  Bc^d  whose  lamented  death  will  be  sensibly 
felt  by  his  family,  by  his  Parishioners,  by  y®  Convention  & 
by  y'  Ch'=''  at  large.  The  Rev*^  Mr.  Compton  late  Rector  of 
St.  James  Parish  A.  A.  Co.  as  mentioned  above  has  also  this 


CONVENTION  OF  1808  AND  WAR  OF  1812  143 

year  been  called  from  his  labours  to  receive  their  rewards 
(as  y*  Bp.  trusts)  in  y®  mansions  of  bliss.  The  Bp.  has  to 
add  y*  names  of  y*  Rev'^  Messrs  Ball^  Ralph,  &  Higginbotham 
to  his  account  of  y®  Deaths  of  his  Clergy  this  year,  neither 
of  these  Gentlemen  had  any  Cures  in  y*  Church  when  they 
died  &  being  worn  out  by  age  &  infirmities  it  is  not  likely 
that  either  of  them  would  have  been  able  had  they  lived 
longer  to  have  resumed  their  functions  in  it.  The  Rev*^  Mr. 
Moscross  has  removed  from  this  Diocese  without  applying  to 
y*  Bp.  for  y*  Certificate  required  in  such  Cases  by  y*  Canon 
of  y*  General  Convention. 

It  appears  from  y®  foregoing  detail  that  y*  Bp.  in  y®  course 
of  this  year  has  ordained  3  Deacons,  viz.  y®  Rev*^  Mr.  Bayne, 
y"  Rev*^  Mr.  Noble  Young  &  y«  Rev"^  Mr.  Purnel  F.  Smith  & 
has  admitted  two  Deacons  to  Priests  Orders  viz.  y*  Rev. 
Mr.  Chandler  &  y*  Rev.  Mr.  Ninde;  that  he  has  Licenced  4 
Readers,  that  he  has  confirmed  297  Persons  in  this  Diocese 
&  70  in  that  of  Virginia;  on  the  present  State  of  the  Ch'^ 
of  Maryland  generally  y*  Bp.  begs  leave  to  say  to  y®  Con- 
vention: that  y®  source  of  Information  on  this  subject  derived 
by  him  from  y*  annual  Reports  of  his  Clergy  formerly  re- 
quired by  Canon  to  be  made  to  him,  &  now  not  seen  by  him 
until  they  are  read  in  Convention  has  very  much  confirmed 
his  views  of  that  subject  to  his  personal  observations  on  his 
different  visitations,  &  these  views  have  been  made  known  to 
y®  Convention  in  y*  foregoing  Detail  &  afford  us  sufficient 
grounds  to  hope  y*^  a  faithful  discharge  of  y*  duties  we  are 
now  engaged  in  together  with  those  of  y®  pastoral  office  by 
his  clergy  generally  assisted  by  y®  zealous  support  of  y* 
Laity  &  y®  Spirit  of  peace,  amity  &  concord  pervading  y* 
whole  Society  will  by  y®  blessing  of  God  soon  crown  our 
efforts  with  success  &  manifest  to  y®  world  that  God's  ever- 
lasting arms  are  underneath  his  Ch*.  All  which  as  required 
by  y*  45  Canon  of  y®  general  Convention  is  very  Respectfully 
submitted  to  the  Convention  of  the  Church  of  Maryland." 


CHAPTER    XI 

ELECTION  OF  A  SUFFRAGAN 

For  several  years  Bishop  Claggett's  health  had  been  grad- 
ually failing  and  this  unfortunate  condition  limited  his  epis- 
copal activity  very  materially,  his  visits  of  necessity  being 
chiefly  confined  to  the  western  shore  of  the  diocese.  In  1808 
he  was  compelled  by  ill  health  to  resign  his  large  parish 
of  St.  Paul's,  Prince  George's  County,  which  he  had  held 
since  his  election  to  the  episcopate  sixteen  years  before. 
Determined,  however,  to  be  a  rector  as  well  as  a  bishop  he 
organized  Trinity  Church,  in  Upper  Marlboro,  near  his  home 
in  Croom,  and  he  remained  in  charge  of  this  little  church 
the  rest  of  his  life.  Twice  he  had  an  assistant,  but  at  the 
time  of  his  death  he  had  none.  Beginning  with  the  early 
years  of  the  century  there  was  an  increasing  agitation  for 
an  assistant,  coadjutor,  or  suffragan  bishop  (opinions  differed 
as  to  the  form  episcopal  assistance  should  take)  for  the  east- 
ern shore.  Bishop  Claggett  thoroughly  recognized  the  need  of 
more  personal  supervision  than  he  was  able  to  bestow  and 
so  he  sent  the  following  communication  to  the  convention  of 
1811,  which  met  in  Baltimore,  June  19-21.  He  had  journeyed 
to  Baltimore  expressly  to  attend  this  convention  but  was  taken 
ill  immediately  on  arrival  and  was  confined  to  the  house  of 
Dr.  Bend,  the  rector  of  St.  Paul's,  during  the  entire  period 
of  the  meeting. 

BISHOP  CLAGGETT  TO  HIS  DIOCESAN  CONVENTION. 

Baltimore,  June  20,  1811. 
Rev.  and  Respected  Gentlemen, 

Having  devoted  myself  to  the  service  of  God  in  the  Chris- 
tian ministry,  for  40  years  and  upwards,  and  having  sat  in 

144 


ELECTION  OF  A  SUFFRAGAN  145 

the  Episcopal  chair  for  nearly  20  of  those  years,  I  cannot, 
I  will  not  desert  the  interests  of  the  Church  of  Maryland. 
Neither  the  laws  of  God,  nor  of  the  Church,  nor  will  my  own 
wishes  permit  this.  It  is  therefore  my  determination,  that 
all  the  powers  of  body  and  mind,  with  which  it  shall  please 
God  to  bless  me,  shall  be  exerted  in  the  discharge  of  the 
pastoral  duties,  to  the  end  of  my  days. 

But  the  infirmities  of  age,  and  the  violent  paroxysms  of 
my  painful  disorder,  sometimes  render  me  unable  to  take  long 
journies  to  the  distant  parts  of  this  large  diocess.  Thus  cir- 
cumstanced, and  the  concerns  of  our  dear  Church  being  para- 
mount, with  me,  to  every  other  consideration,  I  apprehend  it 
to  be  my  duty,  to  hold  up  to  your  view  the  propriety  of 
choosing  some  "qualified  clergyman,"  who,  when  consecrated, 
may  assist  me  in  discharging  the  functions  of  the  Episcopate. 

You  will  be  pleased  seriously  to  weigh  the  matter  of  this 
communication  in  your  minds,  and  act,  as  to  you  may  seem 
fit,  at  the  present,  or  some  subsequent  session. 

Should  you,  in  your  wisdom,  think  such  an  officer  necessary, 
whether  you  make  choice  of  him  now,  or  defer  it  to  a  future 
time,  assure  yourselves  you  may  reckon  upon  my  cordial 
acceptance  of  the  person,  whom  you  may  choose. 

Earnestly  do  I  pray  the  Great  Head  of  our  holy  church, 
that  he  will  condescend  "to  have  you  in  his  keeping,"  and 
that  he  will  be  pleased  to  guide  and  direct  your  consultations, 
to  the  advancement  of  his  own  glory,  and  the  peace,  happi- 
ness, and  prosperity  of  his  Body,  the  Church. 

I  am.  Rev.  and  respected  Brethren,  your  affectionate 
Diocesan, 

Tho^  Jn°  Claggktt. 

The  convention  voted  thanks  to  the  bishop  for  this  com- 
munication, ordered  its  insertion  in  the  Journal,  and  post- 
poned further  consideration  until  the  next  convention.     Fol- 


146  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

lowing  this  convention  and  the  bishop's  request  for  an  assist- 
ant, the  Maryland  Church  was  so  violently  racked  by  dis- 
sension^ largely  induced  by  the  Rev.  George  Dashiell,  rector 
of  St.  Peter's,  Baltimore,  that  the  bishop  began  to  regret 
that  he  had  broached  the  subject  of  episcopal  assistance  at  all. 
Mr.  Dashiell  had  previously  shown  signs  of  insubordination 
to  the  authority  of  the  bishop  and  the  convention,  and  now 
charged  certain  clergymen  of  the  diocese  with  having  wheedled 
and  teased  Bishop  Claggett  into  the  measure  of  asking  for 
a  suffragan.  "There  were  not  wanting,"  says  Dr.  Hawks, 
"those  who  thought  that  the  charge  would  never  have  been 
heard,  had  not  disappointed  ambition  writhed  under  the  dis- 
covery, that  if  a  suffragan  were  appointed,  he  would  not  be 
the  rector  of  St.  Peter's."^  When,  therefore,  the  convention 
of  1812  met,  the  bishop  stated  in  his  address  that  it  seemed 
doubtful  whether  it  would  be  expedient,  at  that  time,  to  en- 
deavor to  procure  an  assistant,  and  furthermore  that  it  was 
a  very  momentous  question  what  kind  of  an  assistant  should 
be  secured,  assuring  them  that  a  suffragan  and  not  a  coad- 
jutor would  be  the  only  one  that  he  could  conscientiously 
accept. 

The  following  day,  notwithstanding,  the  convention  pro- 
ceeded to  ballot  for  "the  election  of  a  suffragan  or  assistant 
bishop,  to  assist  the  present  bishop  of  the  diocese  in  the  duties 
of  the  episcopal  office,  and  to  succeed  him  in  case  of  sur- 
vivorship." From  the  clergy  the  Rev.  Dr.  James  Kemp  re- 
ceived 12  votes,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Benjamin  Contee  5.  Dr. 
Kemp,  the  candidate  of  the  high  Church  party,  thus  received 
the  constitutional  two-thirds  vote  of  the  clerical  order,  but 
upon  presenting  this  nomination  to  the  lay  delegates,  13  votes 
were  in  favor  of  Dr.  Kemp  and  11  were  against  him.  The 
necessary  two-thirds  vote  of  the  laity  was  not  secured  and 
no  election  was  effected.  ^ 

^  Hawks,  Maryland,  p.  378. 


ELECTION  OF  A  SUFFRAGAN  147 

The  bishop's  reasons  for  addressing  the  1811  convention 
on  the  subject  of  episcopal  assistance  are  plainly  set  forth 
in  the  following  letter: 

TO  THE  REV.  JOSEPH  JACKSON. 

Ckoom  June  17th  1813. 
Rev.  &  Dear  Sir, 

I  received  your  letter  before  the  meeting  of  our  last  Con- 
vention alluding  to  some  assertions  used  in  a  pamphlet  pub- 
lished not  long  since  by  y®  Vestry  of  St.  Peter's  Parish 
respecting  y®  Subject  of  choosing  a  suffragan  Bishop  for  this 
diocese,  which  was  brought  before  the  Convention  of  our 
Church  of  1811  and  1812  by  me.  My  reasons  for  directing 
the  attention  of  those  Conventions  to  this  subject  were  the 
following,  viz.  The  Eastern  Shore  members  of  the  Standing 
Committee  for  the  year  1811  (whose  opinions  I  was  bound 
by  the  Canons  to  respect)  had  recommended  y®  measure  to 
me;  our  People  on  that  shore  (to  whom  I  felt  myself  under 
great  obligations)  appeared  to  me  to  desire  it;  the  obstacles 
to  a  faithfuU  discharge  of  y®  Episcopal  duties  on  that  Shore 
by  a  Bishop  residing  on  this,  I  had  found  by  experience  were 
very  great,  as  it  generally  took  me  as  long  again  to  be  from 
home  to  perform  y®  same  number  of  duties  on  that  Shore,  w* 
it  did  on  this ;  I  had  observed  too  that  the  rule  of  Convention 
to  meet  every  third  yea-r  on  that  Shore  had  gradually  been 
abandoned  as  it  had  been  found  impracticable  to  collect  y® 
members  from  this  shore  on  that  in  sufficient  numbers  to  do 
business.  These  were  the  reasons  that  induced  me  to  make 
the  communications  that  I  did  make  to  the  Conventions  of 
1811  and  1812  &  not  any  imposition  passed  or  attempted  to  be 
passed  on  me  by  you  or  any  other  person.  .  .   . 

Your  affectionate  Diocesan, 

Tho^  Jn°  Claggett. 


148  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

The  following  letter  from  Bishop  Claggett  to  Dr.  Kemp, 
written  not  very  long  after  the  attempted  election  of  1812, 
also  explains  the  bishop's  position  and  the  complications  into 
which  he  was  drawn  by  less  disinterested  individuals.  Dr. 
Kemp  had,  in  the  meantime,  owing  to  the  sudden  death  of 
Dr.  Bend,  left  the  eastern  shore  and  become  the  associate 
rector  of  St.  Paul's,  Baltimore,  thus  materially  altering  his 
geographical  qualifications  as  episcopal  assistant  for  the 
eastern  shore. 

TO  DR.  KEMP. 

Croom,  Jan.  9,  1813. 
Rev.  &  Dear  Sir, 

Your  favor  of  the  first  of  this  month  lay  longer  in  the 
post-ofiice  at  Marlboro  than  letters  addressed  to  me  usually 
do  owing  perhaps  to  my  sending  there  seldomer  in  winter 
than  other  parts  of  the  year.  Now  I  have  rec'd  it  I  hasten 
to  say  that  I  sincerely  congratulate  you  on  your  recent  ap- 
pointment as  I  doubt  not  but  that  you  have  judged  it  most 
conducive  to  the  good  of  the  Church  &  your  own  happi- 
ness. .  .  .  My  health  has  been  generally  worse  in  spring 
than  in  any  other  part  of  the  year;  added  to  this  I  have 
observed  that  Feb.  has  been  for  several  years  passed  dis- 
tinguished by  the  inclemency  of  the  weather;  it  would  there- 
fore be  very  uncertain  whether  I  could  meet  an  appointment 
to  be  in  Baltimore  next  month  supposing  I  should  make  one 
and  have  therefore  adopted  the  other  mode  proposed  by  you 
and  have  appointed  Rev.  Mr.  Beasley  to  be  your  in- 
stitutor.  .  .  . 

As  to  the  subject  matter  of  the  latter  part  of  your  letter 
viz.  the  business  of  an  assistant  or  suffragan  bishop  I  shall  at 
this  time  briefly  and  candidly  make  a  few  observations  with 
a  view  as  far  as  in  my  power  lies  to  remove  some  erroneous 
impressions  which  appear  to  you  to  have  been  made  on  your 
mind  respecting  that  business.    In  the  first  place  I  will  observe 


ELECTION  OF  A  SUFFRAGAN  149 

to  you  that  the  plan  did  not  originate  with  me.  I  was  told  by 
a  Gentleman  who  was  a  principal  actor,  that  it  originated 
in  the  Eastern  shore  associations  of  y*  clergy  &  I  know  it 
came  to  me  first  &  long  before  I  mentioned  it  to  you  from  the 
Eastern  shore  members  of  y®  Standing  Committee  &  from  y® 
Rev"^  Mr.  Judd  who  was  also  a  member  of  y®  Standing  Com- 
mittee soon  after  their  meeting  at  Hadways  on  y®  Rev.  Mr. 
Wm.  Wilmer's  ordination  business,  it  was  then  proposed  to 
me  as  a  measure  intended  for  ye  benefit  of  the  Church  on 
the  Eastern  shore  &  my  consent  solicited  by  several  of  y* 
members  of  y®  standing  committee  who  had  met  at  Hadways; 
imder  this  impression  I  gave  my  consent;  under  this  impres- 
sion I  mentioned  this  affair  to  you;  &  under  this  impression  I 
have  uniformly  supported  y*  measure  until  your  removal.  On 
my  way  to  y*  Eastern  shore  when  last  I  visited  that  part  of 
my  Diocese,  I  passed  through  Annapolis,  there  I  saw  y®  Rev. 
Mr.  Ninde  who  told  me  he  had  a  little  before  been  in  Balti- 
more, &  that  he  had  learned  there  that  a  large  majority  of 
y*  vestry  of  St.  Paul's  had  determined  to  give  you  a  call  to 
the  associate  rectorship  of  that  parish;  as  in  my  judgment 
your  removal  to  y*  western  shore  would  materially  effect  y" 
question  of  your  election  as  a  suffragan  Bp.  as  being  contrary 
to  y®  original  views  of  assisting  me  on  y®  Eastern  shore  & 
would  have  a  different  bearing  on  y®  peace  &  happiness  of  y® 
Ch*  &  of  course  on  my  subsequent  conduct  I  considered  it  to 
be  a  duty  I  owed  to  y®  Church  &  to  you  to  make  you  ac- 
quainted with  my  opinion  on  these  points  before  you  should 
decide  on  a  removal  to  y®  western  shore  if  y®  offer  should 
be  made  to  you,  &  this  was  y"  purport  of  y*  message  sent 
to  you  by  our  excellent  friend  Mr.  Goldsbury.^  I  am  sorry 
he  appears  to  have  misapprehended  me.  It  is  true  that  in 
consequence  of  having  heard  that  our  late  friend  Dr.  Bend 
at  his  own  table  in  a  large  company  soon  after  y*  decision  of 

^The  bishop  probably  meant  "Goldsborough." 


150  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

y*  question  by  y®  last  convention  threw  out  something  that 
implicated  y®  consistency  of  my  conduct  &  implied  a  doubt 
whether  I  voted  for  you  or  not  myself?  &  that  he  then  asked 
you  whether  I  had  not  promised  you  my  support?  and  that 
you  replied  the  promise  was  made  to  you  by  me  but  that  I  had 
a  right  to  change  my  mind.  In  consequence  of  this  informa- 
tion I  detailed  my  concern  in  the  whole  transaction  to  our 
worthy  friend  Mr.  Goldsbury.  I  told  him  that  I  did  vote 
for  you  &  that  it  had  hapned  fortunately  that  y*  Rev.  Mr. 
Davis  wrote  your  name  on  my  ticket  &  saw  it  put  in  y®  Hat 
&  that  I  was  sure,  if  spoken  to,  he  would  remove  all  doubt 
on  that  score.  In  the  course  of  the  detail  I  informed  Mr. 
G.  also  that  while  sick  at  Dr.  Bend's  during  y®  session  of 
Convention  in  1811  I  communicated  to  that  gentleman  my 
intention  to  make  y*  communication  to  y*  Convention  that  I 
did  make  &  gave  him  y®  Instrument  which  I  had  brought 
with  me  to  y®  Convention,  to  hand  in  to  that  body.  It  hapned 
that  Dr.  Bend  mislaid  the  Instrmnent  &  did  not  introduce 
it  for  several  days ;  in  the  meantime  my  intention  became 
publick  in  j"  Convention  &  various  opinions  were  entertained 
by  y*  members  respecting  it.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Dashiell  was  one 
of  those  who  thought  it  highly  inexpedient  &  frought  with 
dangerous  consequences  &  likely  to  eifect  ye  peace  &  happi- 
ness of  y*  Ch'^'*  of  Maryland;  he  came  to  me  at  Dr.  Bend's 
together  with  several  other  of  y®  clergy  &  remonstrated  against 
y®  measure  using  many  arguments  to  support  his  opinion 
(w*  also  seemed  to  be  the  opinion  of  j"  clergy  who  came 
with  him)  &  concluded  by  saying  he  never  would  pay  obe- 
dience to  any  other  Diocesan  while  y®  breath  was  in  my  body 
— all  this  he  said  in  a  respectful  manner  &  he  had  a  perfect 
right  as  one  of  my  presbyters  to  offer  his  opinion  on  a  subj  ect 
of  such  importance  to  y®  Ch*.  To  his  arguments  I  replied 
that  it  was  not  contemplated  that  y®  suffragan  Bp.  should  have 
any  jurisdiction  on  y®  western  shore,  that  my  mind  was  made 


ELECTION  OF  A  SUFFRAGAN  151 

up  on  y*  subject  &  that  I  would  submit  it  to  the  Convention 
w*  I  accordingly  did.  .  .  . 

With  respect  to  my  influencing  my  worthy  friend  Dr. 
Contee  in  the  part  he  took  in  this  business  I  assert  that  y" 
surmise  is  without  foundation.  It  is  true  that  I  have  been 
in  habits  of  intimacy  with  that  Gentleman  for  many  years 
&  highly  esteem  him;  such  is  my  opinion  of  y*  soundness  & 
independency  of  his  judgment  &  y®  integrity  of  his  heart 
that  I  should  shrink  away  with  shame  from  y*  idea  of  attempt- 
ing to  influence  him  from  doing  whatever  he  thought  right; 
and  I  am  confident  too  that  such  an  attempt  as  this  (word 
illegible)  would  have  proved  abortive  if  I  had  been  base  & 
mean  enough  to  have  made  it.  I  remember  well  that  some 
little  time  before  y®  Convention  of  1811  I  mentioned  to  Dr. 
Contee  my  intention  of  making  y®  communication  that  I  did 
make  to  y®  Convention  I  showed  him  y®  rough  draft  &  as  he 
writes  a  better  hand  than  I  do  I  requested  him  to  copy  it, 
he  did  so  &  in  a  short  conversation  that  then  took  place  be- 
tween us  on  y®  sub j  ect  I  concluded  from  some  hints  he  dropped 
that  he  did  not  approve  of  y®  measure.  I  do  not  recollect 
that  I  ever  heard  him  say  how  he  voted  but  I  believe  on  y® 
question  of  expediency  in  y®  negative  &  when  that  was  de- 
cided against  his  opinion  I  believe  he  voted  for  you.  I  believe 
so  I  say,  because  I  think  he  has  too  much  humility  to  vote  for 
himself,  &  I  know  that  no  person  was  voted  for  but  you  & 
himself.  If  any  Gentleman  gave  a  preference  for  him  I 
am  confident  he  did  not  solicit  that  preference,  &  therefore 
be  their  motives  what  they  may,  is  not  responsible  for  this 
conduct. 

I  assure  you.  Rev.  Sir,  that  if  I  have  erred  in  this  busi- 
ness I  have  none  of  my  western  shore  friends  to  blame  for 
my  errors.  I  never  gave  any  opinion  myself  before  on  y* 
question  of  y®  expediency  of  y®  measure,  neither  did  I  vote 
on  it,  wishing  to  have  y®  opinion  of  y®  Ch*.     My  own  private 


152  LIFE  OP  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

opinion  however  all  along  was  that  a  suffragan  would  fall 
for  y*  Eastern  shore  but  not  so  for  y®  Western  as  I  felt  my- 
self competent  to  all  y®  canonical  duties  of  my  office  on  y* 
western  shore,  if  y®  Eastern  shore  could  be  well  supplied.  By 
a  perusal  of  this  letter  you  will  perceive  that  by  your  removal 
to  this  shore  I  consider  the  suffragan  question  so  much  altered 
as  to  leave  me  at  perfect  liberty  to  pursue  that  line  of  con- 
duct which  I  may  judge  may  most  conduce  to  y®  peace  & 
happiness  of  y®  Ch*^^  &  I  candidly  say  to  you  that  my  present 
opinion  is  that  y®  Church  standing  in  her  present  situation  & 
with  a  full  view  of  recent  melancholy  events  w"^  have  taken 
place  in  y®  Diocese  of  N.  Y.  had  better  put  up  for  a  short  time 
with  some  privations  than  endanger  its  peace  by  precipita- 
tion; I  say  a  short  time  for  my  years  &  infirmities  preclude 
a  fear  of  a  long  duration.  I  have  governed  y*  Ch*^^  of  Mary- 
land for  upwards  of  20  years  in  a  tolerable  degree  of  peace 
&  happiness  &  it  shall  be  y*  study  of  y®  poor  little  remainder 
of  my  life,  to  pursue  y®  same  object  as  I  am  in  duty  bound 
to  do. 

I  feel  y®  weight  of  y®  obligations  you  have  conferred  upon 
me,  not  only  by  those  mentioned  in  your  letter  but  also  of  many 
others  not  there  enumerated  &  I  sincerely  thank  you  for 
them  all. 

Tho^  Jn°  Claggett. 

The  convention  of  1813,  which  met  in  Baltimore,  June 
9-11,  was  exceptionally  well  attended.  Nineteen  of  the  clergy 
were  present  and  thirty-two  lay  delegates.  In  spite  of  ap- 
parent expectations,  no  move  concerning  the  election  of  a 
suffragan  was  made  by  either  faction.  A  majority  of  the 
clergy  were  in  favor  of  Dr.  Kemp;  a  majority  of  the  laymen 
were  opposed  to  him.  All  realized  the  impossibility  of  accom- 
plishing anything  in  either  direction,  and  so  the  convention 
adjourned  without  reference  to  the  matter,  but  with  excite- 


ELECTION  OF  A  SUFFRAGAN  153 

merit  still  at  fever  heat,  and  with  contention  and  tumult  in 
the  air. 

The  following  year  the  convention  again  met  in  Baltimore, 
Jime  1st.  Concerning  the  approaching  convention  William 
Duke  wrote  to  Kemp,  on  May  2:  "I  did  not  know,  how- 
ever, that  the  choice  of  a  Bishop  was  to  be  attempted  again 
so  soon.  It  seems  that  wherever  there  is  a  vacancy  there  will 
be  someone  ready  to  fill  it,  but  in  the  present  state  of  affairs 
a  man  who  desires  the  office  of  a  bishop  must  be  hard  put  to 
it  to  gain  a  little  distinction,  or,  with  the  earnestness  of  prim- 
itive zeal,  devoted  to  the  service  of  the  Church."  Many  in 
both  parties  believed  that  the  deadlock  would  bar  any  attempt 
to  elect  a  suffragan  bishop,  and  hence  the  attendance  was 
much  smaller  than  that  of  the  previous  year.  Consequently 
the  friends  of  Dr.  Kemp  and  advocates  of  the  High  Church 
party  found,  upon  coming  together,  by  unfair  scheming,  said 
their  enemies,  unexpectedly  and  by  mere  chance,  said  those 
more  charitably  inclined,  that  they  had  a  two-thirds  majority 
of  each  order,  and  upon  this  discovery  they  proceeded  to  an 
election.  Kemp  received  12  votes  and  Contee  5,  the  same  as 
in  the  convention  of  1812,  but  from  the  laity  18  votes  were 
cast  for  Kemp  and  7  for  Contee,  upon  which  the  former  was 
declared  duly  elected  suffragan  bishop,  by  a  constitutional 
two-thirds  majority  of  both  orders,  and  his  testimonials  were 
forthwith  drawn  up  and  signed. 

Immediately  the  discord  and  dissension  broke  forth  in  a 
tempest.  A  paper  was  drawn  up  and  signed  by  six  clergy- 
men and  seventeen  laymen  protesting  to  the  House  of  Bishops 
against  the  consecration  of  Dr.  Kemp,  on  the  ground  (1) 
that  the  office  of  suffragan  bishop  was  unknown  to  the  con- 
stitution of  the  Church  in  Maryland,  and  that  in  consequence 
any  acts  which  he  might  perform  would  be  invalid;  (2)  that 
the  election  did  not  meet  the  approbation  of  the  constitutional 
majority  of  the   delegates   who  were  members   of  the    1814 


154  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

convention,  this  reason  being  based  on  the  assertion  that  a 
number  of  delegates,  believing  that  the  subject  would  not  be 
brought  before  the  convention,  had  previously  left  and  re- 
turned home;  (3)  that  so  long  as  the  convention  of  1813,  to 
whom  the  subject  had  been  committed  in  1812,  had  preserved 
silence,  that  it  could  not  properly  be  brought  before  a  sub- 
sequent convention  without  a  renewed  reference  of  the  sub- 
ject to  the  Church  at  large,  and  (4)  that  it  was  believed  that 
the  election  was  achieved  by  surprise,  and  that  its  results 
would  be  detrimental  to  the  Church  at  large. 

These  objections  were  given  serious  consideration  by 
Bishops  White,  Hobart  and  Richard  Channing  Moore,  the 
chosen  consecrators  of  Dr.  Kemp.  They  did  not  find  valid 
any  of  the  questions  raised.^  A  report  seems  to  have  been 
quietly  circulated  that  the  charge  of  heresy  and  errors  in 
doctrine  would  be  presented  against  Kemp,  though  there 
seems  no  foundation  to  the  story  that  such  charges  were 
being  considered.  Bishop  Claggett  was  determined  to  pre- 
serve an' absolutely  neutral  ground,  and  not  express  his  views 
upon  any  phase  of  the  question  until  after  the  consecrating 
bishops  had  rendered  their  report.  His  neutrality  and  the 
reason  for  it  are  clearly  shown  in  the  following  letter  which 
he  wrote  to  Dr.  Kemp  after  the  latter's  election  but  previous 
to  his  consecration. 

TO  DR.  KEMP. 

June  24,  1814. 
Rev"  &  D«  Sir, 

Your  letter  of  the  8th  inst.  did  not  arrive  here  until  fri- 
day  last,  and  at  the  same  hour,  we  were  alarmed  by  the 
arrival  of  the  Enemy  in  force,  within  a  few  miles  of  this 
place,  we  have  been  in  continual  hurry  and  tumult  since — 
The  only  son  I  had  with  me  was  taken  away  to  camp,  and 

'  The  decision  of  the  bishops  is  rehearsed  in  detail  in  Hawks,  Maryland 
p.  398-seq.,  and  it  seems  unnecessary  to  enter  upon  the  details  here. 


ELECTION  OF  A  SUFFRAGAN  155 

a  few  old  men  left,  with  the  women,  and  children,  amidst 
a  large  black  population;  These  things  together  with  my 
great  indisposition  will  I  hope  plead  a  sufficient  excuse  for  my 
not  writing  before  this.  To  answer  your  letter  now  I  am  not 
in  a  good  condition,  but  by  way  of  justification  of  my  con- 
duct in  this  business,  I  think  it  necessary  to  say  to  you,  that 
after  having  twice  asked  the  Church  of  Md.  (for  reasons 
stated  in  my  communications  and  published  in  the  journals 
of  the  convention)  to  give  me  a  Suffragan  to  assist  in  the 
discharge  of  the  duties  of  my  office;  and  after  having  at  the 
first  attempt  by  the  Church  to  elect  that  Suffragan  (as  is 
well  known  to  you  and  many  others)  voted  for  you  myself 
to  fill  that  office,  I  think  little  doubt  can  be  entertained  of 
my  willingness  to  receive  you  in  that  capacity  (if  fairly  pre- 
sented to  me,  the  peace  and  happiness  of  the  Church  not  being 
thereby  greatly  endangered).  It  is  true  I  opposed  the  mode 
of  your  election  in  our  last  Convention,  I  opposed  it  because 
I  considered  it  unfair,  unprecedented,  and  dangerous,  unfair 
because  it  was  introduced  and  precipitated  through  the  house 
at  the  eve  of  the  convention,  without  one  moments  previous 
notice  to  the  party  opposed  to  it,  when  I  was  satisfied;  that 
a  few  days,  or  even  a  few  hours  notice  would  have  enabled 
them  to  defeat  the  object  of  the  mover — (here  in  justice  to 
you  Rey^  Sir,  I  think  it  necessary  to  observe,  that  I  do  not 
believe  you  were  made  acquainted  with  the  design  before  the 
meeting  of  the  convention) — unprecedented,  because  although 
not  unconstitutional;  yet  the  Church  of  Md,  had  on  account 
of  the  importance  of  the  question,  to  her  peace  and  happi- 
ness judged  it  necessary  in  all  the  three  preceding  attempts 
to  elect  a  Bp.  for  this  Diocese;  to  give  to  all  her  members 
a  years  notice  of  her  intention  to  do  so;  and  I  believe  the 
giving  of  due  notice  of  the  intention  to  elect  a  Bp.  has  been 
deemed  necessary  by  every  other  Church  in  communion  with 
us  in  America;  and  as  far  as  I  know,  and  believe,  practised 


156  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

by  them  in  every  instance  except  the  case  of  Dr.  Griffith  of 
Virginia,  who  was  elected  by  that  Church  on  the  spur  of  the 
occasion;  with  but  a  very  short  notice,  and  of  course  a  thin 
convention — and  the  circumstance,  I  well  remember  caused 
much  confusion  and  noise  in  that  church,  that  Dr.  Griffith 
resigned  his  appointment;  due  notice  was  afterwards  given, 
and  the  late  Dr.  Madison  was  elected,  went  to  England  and 
was  there  consecrated — Dangerous,  the  prolific  parent  of  dis- 
cord, confusion,  &  schism  in  y*  Ch.  and  because  if  drawn 
Into  a  precedent,  (and  I  doubt  not  it  will  be),  it  opens  a  wide 
door  for  all  those  surreptitious  intrigues,  and  cabals  in  the 
Church,  which  have  so  much  injured  our  civil  governments 
and  if  the  Episcopal  office  in  this  country  should  ever  be- 
come a  lucrative  one  it  may  lead  to  Simony  itself — for  these 
reasons,  and  others  I  opposed  it,  through  every  stage  of  its 
passage  through  the  last  convention,  although  not  permitted 
to  vote  against  it,  when  as  the  result  shewed  my  vote  would 
have  put  the  question  to  rest  for  the  present — so  greatly  has 
St.  Ignatius'  opinion  on  this  subject  been  respected  in  our 
day  and  by  our  Church.  Observing  however  that  some  of 
my  venerable  Presbyters,  and  some  of  the  younger  clergy, 
who  had  all  along  strenuously  opposed  the  measure,  had  gone 
over,  on  the  last  vote  taken  on  the  occasion;  by  which  change 
the  requisite  majority  was  obtained,  and  charitably  hoping, 
that  this  change  was  a  sacrifice  of  their  former  sentiments 
to  what  they  thought  would  best  promote  the  peace  and 
happiness  of  the  Church;  I  did  when  thus  left  in  a  very  small 
minority  of  my  clergy,  for  the  same  reasons,  declare  to 
both  parties;  that  all  opposition  on  my  part  was  at  an  end, 
and  if  the  Church  quietly  acquiesced  in  the  measure  I  w'' 
even  go  a  step  further  in  the  business — I  am  sorry  to  inform 
you  that  a  serious  opposition  to  the  mode  of  your  election  is 
forming,  and  a  separation  threatened — this  being  the  case, 
I   have   assumed    (word  missing)    neutral   ground,  and  have 


ELECTION  OF  A  SUFFRAGAN  157 

resisted  every  invitation  to  sign  the  Protest — on  the  other 
hand  I  shall  do  no  act  till  consecration  is  effected ;  which  may 
be  considered  as  approving  of  the  mode  in  which  this  busi- 
ness has  been  conducted — as  an  individual  Bp. ;  I  do  not  find 
myself  clothed  by  the  Church  with  any  power  to  decide  con- 
troverted elections  to  the  Episcopal  oflSce^  she  having  provided 
other  authorities  to  whom  that  power  is  committed.  If  these 
authorities,  therefore,  sh*^  duly  sanction  your  election,  I  shall 
concede  this  act  as  the  voice  of  the  Church,  and  as  such  shall 
greatly  respect  it.  This  together  with  what  I've  said  in  my 
communications  to  our  convention  and  my  declaration  that  I 
did  myself  vote  for  you  before  I  had  reason  to  dread  con- 
fusion, will  I  hope  be  satisfactory  to  the  Bishops,  and  to 
yourself — it  is  all  which  under  the  existing  circumstances,  I 
can  say  on  the  subject;  for  I  neither  can,  or  will,  by  any  act 
of  mine  knowingly  make  myself  responsible  to  God  or  his 
Church  for  consequences  flowing  (?)  from  a  line  of  conduct, 
to  which,  for  the  reasons  above  assigned  I  was  decidedly 
opposed.  With  sentiments  of  high  Respect,  Esteem  &  Re- 
gard, I  remain,  Rev*^  Sir, 

Your  affectionate  friend  and  brother  in  Xt. 

Tho^  Jn°  Claggett. 

No  letter  preserved  to  us  shows  more  clearly  than  this  one 
the  bishop's  desire  above  all  else  to  do  what  was  best  for 
his  Church,  regardless  of  his  personal  popularity  or  the  mis- 
construction that  might  be  placed  on  his  words  and  actions. 
The  correspondence  of  the  times  shows  that  Dr.  Kemp  had 
been  making  a  quiet  but  determined  and  persistent  campaign 
for  election  to  the  episcopate  for  a  number  of  years.  Much 
of  the  correspondence  shows  extreme  bitterness  between  the 
opposing  parties  and  the  intrigues  of  each  to  outgeneral  the 
other.  Kemp  and  his  associates  were  much  better  organized 
than  their  opponents;  in  fact  the  opposing  faction  seemed  to 


158  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

have  no  clear  program  except  to  oppose  the  election  of  Kemp. 
His  opponents  in  convention,  as  we  have  seen,  voted  for  Dr. 
Benjamin  Contee,  of  Prince  George's  County,  but  there  is  no 
indication  that  that  gentleman  had  given  any  intimation  of 
a  desire  to  be  a  bishop,  or  that  he  lent  himself  in  any  way  to 
their  schemes.  The  following  extracts  of  letters  to  Kemp 
from  his  intimate  friend,  the  Rev.  Joseph  Jackson,  indicate 
that  the  former  was  probably  not  wholly  averse  to  being  made 
a  bishop  and  that  the  agitation  to  place  him  in  the  episcopal 
chair  was  not  unknown  to  him  as  early  as  1811,  before  the 
meeting  of  the  convention  of  that  year. 

THE  REV.  JOSEPH  JACKSON  TO  DR.  KEMP. 
My  Dear  &  Rev''  Friend,  ^^«««^  Town,  June  12.  1811. 

I  write  a  line  or  two,  under  an  entire  uncertainty,  whether 
it  can  be  of  any  use,  by  reaching  you  in  time,  though  this  is 
the  first  opportunity  since  my  arrival  here  (yesterday  eve- 
ning). I  left  the  Bishop  yesterday,  after  conversing  with  him 
considerably  respecting  you,  &  telling  him  particularly,  that 
I  should  write  to  you,  &  press  you  by  all  means  to  attend 
Convention.  I  am  truly  solicitous  that  you  should  be  in  place 
whether  or  not  the  election  for  suffragan  may  take  place. 
Your  absence  under  almost  any  circumstances  may  diminish 
the  confidence  of  your  well-wishers  &  add  strength  to  your 
opponents,  if  you  have  any,  by  affording  a  seeming  instance 
of  want  of  zeal  at  a  most  critical  time.  If  my  opinion  can 
have  weight  with  you,  I  hope  you  will  be  in  Baltimore  &  in 
good  time.  I  can  merely  say  that  the  Bishop  has  declared 
himself  ready  to  co-operate  with  our  wishes;  and  that  I  am 
(though  after  a  sleepless  night  scarcely  able  to  hold  my  pen), 
'  Sincerely  and  cordially  yours,  as  ever, 

Jos.  Jackson. 

p.  s.  I  have  found  a  friend  or  two  to  our  design  more  than 
T  expected  since  my  coming  over.  Our  friend  Addison  sends 
his  respects.  J.  J. 


ELECTION  OF  A  SUFFRAGAN  159 

The  next  year,  Feb.  18,  1812,  Jackson  writes  to  Kemp  as 
follows : 

"In  regard  to  your  promised  visit  the  approaching  Spring, 
I  must  return  to  the  subject,  in  order  to  press  the  obligation 
of  your  promise  &  original  intention  on  you.  .  .  .  Much  de- 
pends upon  your  coming  or  not  coming,  with  regard  to  an 
object  which  you  know  is  &  has  been  much  at  my  heart. 
The  People,  I  mean  in  the  two  parishes  under  my  care,  in 
particular,  but  not  in  them  alone,  are  generally  strangers 
to  you,  except  in  name  &  character;  whereas  with  Mr.  Geo. 
D(ashiell)  they  are  generally  acquainted  sufficiently  to  be 
staggered  by  his  fame.  They  are  also,  from  their  frequent 
communication  with  Baltimore,  very  generally  acquainted  with 
our  much  better  brother  Bend,  &  many  of  them  have  said  to 
me.  Is  he  not  likeliest  to  be  our  future  Bp.  ?  I  have  uniformly 
said,  that  Dr.  Bend  himself  would  propose  another  name,  nam- 
ing that  person;  but  their  want  of  personal  acquaintance  with 
him  precludes  any  effect  beyond  an  acquiescence  in  my  opinion. 
This  remaining  the  case,  if  unhappily  should  so  remain, 
would  leave  the  delegates  to  act  rather  from  their  own  opin- 
ions, than  from  the  known  sense  of  their  constituents,  &  you 
know  the  power  of  intrigue  &  cabal  in  times  of  Convention. 
Did  you  know  that  Mr.  Hardy  was  to  have  two  Parishes  in 
Calvert  County,  the  next  above  me?  His  connection  with 
Mr.  D.  will  render  it  proper  that  you  should  visit  his  Parishes 
as  well  as  mine,  if  possible.  .  .  .  You  will  have  friends  here 
be  assured,  if  you  will  not  be  deficient  in  those  honest  &  easy 
&  dignified  endeavors  which  the  present  condition  of  things 
demands  from  you.  Retirement  will  not  do  for  you;  &  your 
school!  Let  it  be  far  from  you — &  every  parochial  engage- 
ment which  would  bind  the  horrid  charge  upon  you !  You  will 
recognize  the  hand  of  your  plain-dealing,  but  ever  steady  & 
affectionate  friend  &  brother, 

Jos.  Jackson. 


160  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

We  have  stated  above  that  a  paper  protesting  the  election 
of  Kemp  was  signed  by  certain  of  the  clergy  and  laity  but 
that  the  bishops  chosen  to  be  consecrators  did  not  find  the 
objections  valid.  These  protests  disposed  of,  and  their  opin- 
ions with  grounds  transmitted  to  Bishop  Claggett,  Dr.  Kemp 
was  duly  consecrated  suffragan  bishop,  at  New  Brunswick, 
New  Jersey,  on  September  1st,  1814,  by  Bishop  White,  of 
Pennsylvania,  assisted  b}'  Bishops  Hobart  of  New  York  and 
Richard  Channing  Moore,  the  newly  consecrated  bishop  of 
Virginia. 

The  newly  consecrated  bishop,  the  first  and  imtil  very 
recently  the  only  suffragan  bishop  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  in  the  United  States,  was  born  in  Aberdeenshire, 
Scotland,  in  1764.  Graduating  from  Marischal  College, 
Aberdeen,  in  1786,  he  emigrated  to  Maryland  the  following 
year  and  was  for  two  years  a  tutor  in  a  private  family  in 
Dorchester  County.  He  had  been  educated  a  Presbyterian, 
but  becoming  a  convert  to  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
he  took  up  studies  for  the  ministry  under  direction  of  the  Rev. 
Dr.  John  Bowie,  rector  of  Great  Choptank  parish,  Dorchester 
County,  and  was  ordained  deacon  by  Bishop  White,  December 
26,  1789,  and  priest  the  following  day.  In  1790  he  succeeded 
Dr.  Bowie  as  rector  of  Great  Choptank  parish  where  he  re- 
mained for  over  twenty  years,  until  he  succeeded  Dr.  Bend 
as  associate  rector  of  St.  Paul's,  Baltimore,  in  1813.  In  1802 
Kemp  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  Co- 
lumbia College,  and  a  letter  from  Bishop  Claggett  to  Kemp, 
and  one  from  the  Rev.  Abraham  Beach,  a  trustee  of  Columbia, 
and  secretary  of  the  board,  show  that  Bishop  Claggett  re- 
quested this  honor  for  Kemp.  Kemp's  conciliatory  attitude 
after  becoming  bishop  did  much  to  win  for  him  the  esteem 
and  respect  of  the  Church  of  Maryland,  and  although  dissen- 
sion was  destined  to  be  rampant  in  the  diocese  for  many  years, 
he  had,  on  the  whole,  a  successful  episcopate,  and  was  sin- 


ELECTION  OF  A  SUFFRAGAN  161 

cerely  mourned,  when,  by  the  overturning  of  a  stage-coach 
between  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore,  he  met  an  untimely 
death  in  1827,  some  eleven  years  after  the  passing  of  Bishop 
Claggett. 

The  rehearsal  of  Church  broils  in  this  chapter  is  not  in- 
tended for  the  purpose  of  perpetuating  scandal,  but  rather 
to  illustrate  the  elements  among  which  Bishop  Claggett  was 
compelled  to  labor,  the  disadvantages  he  so  valiantly  but 
vainly  strove  to  overcome,  the  petty  jealousies  and  meannesses 
which  sapped  the  life  from  all  spiritual  endeavor  and  made 
the  closing  years  the  saddest  of  his  life. 


CHAPTER    XII 

CLOSING  YEARS 

The  good  bishop  was  now  well  advanced  in  age,  having  in 
1812  completed  his  three  score  years  and  ten.  Soon  after 
his  consecration  we  find  references  in  his  letters  to  a  rheu- 
matic and  nervous  malady  which  grew  steadily  more  painful 
and  depressing  with  increasing  age.  As  early  as  1794,  only 
two  years  after  his  election  to  the  episcopate,  he  writes  to  his 
friend  Duke:  "I  should  have  written  you  long  before  this, 
but  have  been  &  still  am  severely  aflElicted  with  my  Nerves 
almost  daily  since  I  saw  you.  .  .  .  After  y®  Ordination  (set 
for  Dec.  20th  at  St.  John's  Church,  Prince  George's  County) 
I  propose  visiting  y®  Churches  in  St.  Mary's  &  then  lay  by 
for  y**  winter — I  am  very  unable  at  present  to  make  these 
appointments  good;  but  I  trust  that  God  will  assist  me  with 
health  &  strength  enough  to  do  it  before  y*  time  comes."  In 
1808  he  wrote  to  Bishop  White,  in  explanation  for  repeatedly 
leaving  the  House  of  Bishops  before  adjournment:  "I  can 
truly  say  that  for  9  or  10  years  past  I  have  not  been  clear 
of  bodily  pain  for  a  single  day,  and  that  it  has  often  been 
very  violent."  This  ill  health,  unfortunate  for  his  work  and 
depressing  to  his  spirits,  never  seems  to  have  caused  the  slight- 
est irritability  of  temperament,  sourness  of  disposition,  or 
impatience  with  the  frailties  of  others.  Through  all  the 
painful  years  his  sunny  nature  shines  forth  in  his  letters, 
often  written  in  bodily  distress,  in  his  kindly  ministrations 
to  those  about  him,  and  in  the  record  of  permanent  good 
achieved  in  the  face  of  many  handicaps. 

Because  of  his  health  the  bishop  was  absent  from  his 
diocesan  convention  in  1802,  1806,  1811  and  1815,  and  at 
the  convention  of  1803  he  was  obliged  to  leave  the  assembly 

162 


CLOSING  YEARS  163 

before  adjournment.  In  1806  and  1811  he  journeyed  to 
Baltimore  to  attend  the  convention,  but  on  arrival  was  too  ill 
to  meet  with  his  clergy.  He  was  present  at  all  sessions  of 
the  General  Convention  except  those  of  1799,  1811  and  1814. 
In  1811  he  set  out  from  Croom  to  attend  at  New  Haven,  but 
was  so  ill  that  he  was  obliged  to  turn  about  and  return  to  the 
"bosom  of  his  family,"  as  he  frequently  and  affectionately 
referred  to  his  home. 

During  the  last  three  years  of  his  life,  that  is,  after  1813, 
the  bishop  rarely  left  his  home.  His  health  did  not  permit 
travel  to  any  extent,  but  he  was  delighted  to  see  his  friends 
and  always  kept  open  house  for  them.  "Mr.  Meade^  and 
myself,"  writes  the  Rev.  William  H.  Wilmer,  from  Alexan- 
dria, the  23rd  of  February,  1813,  "had  fixed  a  day  last  month 
to  pay  you  a  visit.  When  the  day  arrived  our  river  was  fast 
bound  in  ice,  and  prevented  our  crossing.  But  we  were  de- 
termined not  to  be  thwarted  in  our  purpose,  and  mounted  our 
horses  to  ride  around  by  the  bridge.  When  we  reached  the 
city,  we  concluded  to  call  in  a  few  minutes  at  the  Capitol  and 
refresh  ourselves  with  a  little  repast  of  oratory  at  the  hands 
of  our  sapients.  And  immediately  after  entering  Mr. 
Randolph  rose  and  addressed  the  chair  in  a  speech  of  3^4 
hours.  We  were  so  interested  by  his  manner  that  we  deferred 
from  hour  to  hour  our  departure,  until,  looking  at  our  watch, 
we  found  that  the  sun  had  already  set.  Not  being  acquainted 
with  the  road  we  concluded  it  to  be  most  prudent  to  return. 
It  is  thus  man  is  often  diverted  from  his  best  purposes,  and 
like  Jacob  lingering  at  Shalem,  delays  his  journey  to  Bethel, 
the  object  of  his  hopes  and  the  place  of  his  vows." 

REV.  W.  H.  WILMER  TO  BISHOP  CLAGGETT. 
Right  Rev"  and  Dear  Sir,  Alexandria,  April  19,  1814. 

I  have  this  day  received  a  letter  from  Dr.  Brockenbrough 
of  Richmond  addressed  to  Mr.  Lee  and  myself,  in  which  he 

^  Afterwards  Bishop  Meade,  of  Virginia. 


164  LIFE  OP  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

makes  the  request  in  behalf  of  the  Church  in  that  city  that  we 
should  endeavor  to  procure  your  services  in  consecrating  their 
new  monumental  temple.  Mr.  Lee  informs  me  that  he  has 
written  to  you,  and  I  beg  leave  also  to  add  my  solicitations 
upon  that  subject.  If  it  be  in  your  power  to  comply  with  the 
request,  I  doubt  not  you  will  be  able  to  render  essential  service 
to  that  important  part  of  our  Lord's  vineyard.  We  propose 
to  set  out  on  thursday  28  instant,  so  as  by  easy  stages  to 
accomplish  our  visit  and  return  to  Alexandria  by  Tuesday 
10th  May.  This  will  afford  you  full  time  to  rest  at  home 
previously  to  your  journey  to  Philadelphia.^  If  you  can  in- 
form us  that  you  will  be  with  us  on  Wednesday  evening  the 
27th  we  will  have  a  hack  prepared  to  take  you  comfortably 
down  free  of  expense,  and  of  any  inconvenience  as  far  as 
our  attentions  can  obviate  it. 

Dr.  B.  informs  us  that  the  pews  below  (100  in  number) 
sold  for  $28,450,  and  that  the  anxiety  manifested  to  procure 
them  affords  a  pleasing  presage  of  the  good  that  may  be 
effected  by  a  faithful  evangelical  Pastor. 

We  venture  to  hope  that  it  may  consist  with  your  con- 
venience, as  we  are  certain  it  will  agree  with  and  promote 
your  health,  at  this  mild  season,  to  make  an  excursion  having 
for  its  object  the  gratification  of  your  friends,  and  the  wel- 
fare of  that  Church  which  has  long  had  your  warm  and  con- 
stant exertions.  .  .  . 

Your  affectionate  Son  in  the  Gospel, 

Wm.  H.  Wilmer 

Bishop  Claggett  did  not  take  this  trip,  probably  because 
of  his  health.  On  the  4th  of  May  appropriate  services  were 
performed  in  the  new  Monumental  Church,  built  on  the  site 
of  the  Richmond  theatre,  which  had  burned  shortly  before 
with  an  appalling  loss  of  life.    Mr.  Wilmer  preached  a  sermon 

1  To  attend  General  Convention.    Bishop  Claggett  did  not  go. 


CLOSING  YEARS  165 

but  no  bishop  was  present.  The  building  was  consecrated  by 
Bishop  Richard  Channing  Moore,  of  Virginia,  in  November, 
1814,  the  first  episcopal  act  performed  by  him.^ 

Bishop  Claggett  fortunately  possessed  ample  private 
means — fortunately,  we  say,  because  he  received  practically 
no  salary  as  bishop  and  for  a  great  part  of  the  time  his 
traveling  expenses  were  not  wholly  paid.  In  1806  the  con- 
vention began  to  discuss  plans  for  the  support  of  the  episco- 
pate. It  passed  a  resolution,  acting  on  advice  given  by  the 
committee  on  the  state  of  the  Church,  enjoining  the  vestry  of 
every  parish  to  take  a  collection  annually  until  a  sufficiently 
large  sum  had  been  raised  for  the  income  therefrom  to  con- 
stitute a  support  for  the  bishop,  this  annual  collection  to  be 
sent  to  the  person  appointed  by  the  convention  to  receive  and 
invest  it.  Proper  steps  would  then  be  taken  to  secure  the 
entire  attention  and  services  of  the  bishop,  disengaged  from 
the  duties  of  a  parish.  The  convention  of  1807  resolved: 
"That  it  is  the  opinion  of  the  convention  that  a  principal 
sum  should  be  raised,  for  the  future  support  of  the  episcopate, 
which  may  yield  the  annual  interest  of  2000  dollars,"  and 
appointed  a  committee  consisting  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Kemp,  the 
Rev.  H.  L.  Davis,  Wm.  H.  Dorsey,  of  St.  Peter's,  Baltimore, 
and  John  Beale  Howard,  of  St.  John's,  Harford  County,  to 
consider  the  subject  of  support  for  the  present  bishop. 

The  Journal  of  1808  records  that  $353.53  had  been  col- 
lected for  the  permanent  support  of  the  episcopate,  which  had 
been  placed  at  interest.  The  Journal  of  1809  records  an 
annual  contribution  for  the  present  bishop  of  $260,  and 
$373.92  for  the  permanent  fund,  and  at  the  convention  of 
1810  something  over  $300  was  reported  paid  for  the  expenses 
of  the  bishop.  Thus  from  time  to  time  Bishop  Claggett  re- 
ceived small  amounts  to  meet  the  expenses  of  visitation,  but 
at  no  time  did  he  probably  receive  enough  to  defray  his  entire 

^  Fisher,  Hist,  of  the  Monumental  Church,  1880,  p.  65. 


166  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

expenses,  to  say  nothing  of  a  salary.  During  the  latter  years 
he  generally  made  it  a  rule  for  the  church  he  visited  to  pay 
his  attendant  expenses. 

The  two  following  letters  are  the  last  we  have  from  the 
bishop's  hand.  The  first  relates  to  the  coming  convention  to 
be  held  in  Annapolis,  June  12-14,  the  reference  in  the  first 
part  being  evidently  to  the  unfortunate  scandal  in  which  the 
Rev.  George  Dashiell,  rector  of  St.  Peter's,  Baltimore,  was 
the  principal  actor.  The  second  is  a  purely  personal  letter 
on  family  matters. 

TO  BISHOP  KEMP. 

Croom,  May  15th,  1816. 
Rt.  Rev''  &  Dear  Sir, 

Your  kind  letter  w"*  the  Pamphlet  w''*  accompanied  it  came 
safe  to  hand  a  few  days  ago.  I  shall  forbear  to  answer  y® 
Letter  or  to  say  anything  about  y®  Pamphlet  at  present  as 
you  have  confirmed  my  hope  of  seeing  you  here  shortly, 
indeed  we  have  been  looking  out  for  you  all  this  week.  It 
has  been  my  endeavor  for  many  years  to  promote  y®  peace  & 
prosperity  of  y®  Ch^'^  of  Maryl*^  by  every  means  in  my  power 
&  in  y*  present  situation  in  w"^**  she  is  placed  I  feel  an  anxious 
desire  to  have  your  advice  &  assistance  before  y®  meeting  of 
our  next  Convention.  The  Rev*^  Mr.  Jackson  called  here  on 
his  way  home,  but  forgot  to  mention  to  me  your  Request  that 
I  would  appoint  y®  Rev*^  Mr.  Wyatt  or  y®  Rev*^  Mr.  Bartow 
to  open  y®  Convention  with  a  Sermon.  He  has  written  to  me 
since  and  has  mentioned  to  me  that  omission.  Either  of  those 
Gentlemen  will  be  very  agreeable  to  me;  but  I  think  for 
reasons  w*^**  will  be  obvious  to  you  that  if  Mr.  Wyatt's  health 
will  admit  of  his  doing  it  we  ought  in  y®  first  instance  to  make 
y®  offer  of  it  to  him.  I  highly  approve  of  y®  Rev**  Mr. 
Stevens  &  y®  Rev*^  Mr.  Turner  to  preach  y®  Corporation 
Sermons.  You  will  be  pleased  to  notify  y®  several  Gentlemen 
of  our  appointment.     All  other  matters  I  shall  postpone  say- 


CLOSING  YEARS  167 

ing  anything  about  until  we  meet  as  I  write  in  great  pain. 
Present  me  most  affectionately  to  Mrs.  Kemp  &  believe  me 
to  be  as  ever 

Your  sincere  friend  &  brother  in  Xt.  Js. 

Tho^  Jn°  Claggett. 

TO  BISHOP  KEMP. 

Croom,  July  23d,  1816. 
Rt.  Rev°  &  Very  Dear  Sir, 

I  have  had  a  very  afflicted  family  ever  since  I  got  home 
from  y®  Convention;  soon  after  my  Daughter  Eliza^  began  to 
amend  her  mother  was  taken  ill  and  then  my  son  Sam^  fell 
ill  who  is  still  confined  to  his  bed,  with  a  long  continued  fever 
&  soar  Throat  in  this  Situation  of  things  the  Post  office  at 
Marlbro'  was  neglected  &  little  thought  of  by  me,  so  that 
your  late  kind  letter  lay  longer  there  than  it  would  otherwise 
have  done.  I  seize  this  hasty  opportunity  to  acknowledge  y® 
receipt  of  it,  &  to  thank  you  for  it.  I  have  not  all  y*  money 
by  me,  &  circumstanced  as  I  am  with  my  sick  family  I  can- 
not go  out  to  procure  y®  ballance,  otherwise  I  would  send  y* 
purchase  money  for  y®  Carriage  by  y®  Rev^  Mr.  Wilmer. 
General  Bowie  owes  me  some  money  &  told  me  some  time  ago 
he  should  be  ready  to  pay  me  &  take  in  his  Bond,  but  I  can- 
not leave  my  family  now  to  carry  y®  Bond  &  receive  y®  money 
&  therefore  must  wait  to  get  a  carriage  for  Betsey  until  it  is 
more  convenient  to  do  so;  perhaps  they  may  be  cheaper  too 
as  y®  fall  comes  on.  M'  Wilmer  is  in  a  great  hurry  you  will 
be  pleased  to  present  us  affectionately  to  Mrs.  Kemp  &  be- 
lieve me  to  be 

Your  affectionate  &  much  obliged  Brof 

Tho^  Jn°  Claggett. 

While  on  a  visitation  to  St.  James'  Parish,  Anne  Arundel 
County,  in  the  latter  part  of  July,  a  few  days  after  the  above 


168  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

letter  was  written,  the  bishop  was  taken  ill  with  his  long- 
seated  nervous  affection  and  compelled  to  return  to  his  home. 
The  attack  proved  to  be  the  last  of  the  many;  he  gradually- 
failed,  and  on  the  2nd  day  of  August,  in  the  year  1816,  he 
passed  from  his  labors,  surrounded  by  his  family,  his  house- 
hold servants  and  a  number  of  his  dearest  neighborhood 
friends.  His  last  words  are  said  to  have  related  to  the  wel- 
fare of  the  Maryland  Church  which  he  had  served  so  long 
and  so  faithfully.  He  had  nearly  reached  his  seventy-fourth 
birthday;  he  had  served  for  forty-nine  years  in  the  Christian 
ministry;  and  for  twenty- four  years  he  had  held  the  office  of 
a  bishop.  He  was  laid  at  rest  in  the  little  private  burial 
ground  at  Upper  Marlboro  which  he  had  himself  consecrated 
for  family  use,  and  in  which  his  beloved  wife  and  children 
were  afterward  laid.  ^ 

The  following  letter,  written  by  a  neighbor,  personal  friend, 
and  parishioner  gives  us  some  information  regarding  the 
bishop's  funeral. 

JOHN  READ  MAGRUDER  TO  BISHOP  KEMP. 

Upper  Marlboro  Aug.  6,  1816. 
Right  Rev°  Sir, 

It  is  not  my  good  fortune  to  be  acquainted  with  you,  but 
it  has  become  necessary  for  me  to  address  you. 

The  distressing  intelligence  of  the  death  of  that  Holy 
Prelate^  the  Right  Rev*^  Dr.  Claggett,  has  no  doubt  been  re- 
ceived by  you  before  this.  The  event  has  as  you  may  suppose 
cast  a  deep  gloom  over  the  Society  here.  His  little  flock  of 
Trinity  Church  have  indeed  serious  cause  to  mourn  his  loss. 
Owing  to  the  distress  of  the  family  and  the  indisposition  of 
one  of  the  members  of  it  nothing  has  yet  been  done  prepara- 
tory to  the  funeral.  I  am  now  requested  by  Mr.  Samuel 
Claggett  to  communicate  to  you  that  it  is  the  wish  of  the 
family  that  you  should  attend  at  the  Chapel  of  St.   Paul's 


CLOSING  YEAES  169 

Parish,  to  perform  (with  the  assistance  of  such  of  your 
Presbyters  as  you  may  think  proper  to  select)  the  service, 
and  to  deliver  a  suitable  discourse,  and  they  beg  that  you  will 
appoint  some  day  in  the  first  week  of  September,  after 
Wednesday,  say  the  5th,  6th  or  7th  of  the  month.  It  is  also 
hoped  that  the  clergy  generally  of  the  diocess  will  attend,  and 
I  will  be  thankful  to  you.  Sir,  to  advise  me  of  the  most  con- 
venient mode  of  notifying  them  of  the  time  and  place;  and 
any  arrangements  which  you  may  consider  proper  and  neces- 
sary to  be  made  on  the  occasion  to  render  it  solemn  &  respect- 
ful you  will  be  pleased  to  suggest. 

The  Chapel  of  St.  Paul's,  as  probably  you  know,  is  situated 
about  two  miles  from  Croom,  where  in  the  family  burying 
ground  the  body  is  laid — it  is  intended  after  the  solemnities 
have  been  performed  at  the  Church  that  a  procession  shall  be 
formed  to  move  from  thence  to  the  grave. 

My  residence  is  a  mile  and  a  half  from  this  place,  and  it 
will  be  highly  gratifying  to  me  if  you  will  come  to  my  House 
and  make  it  your  Home  as  long  as  you  stay.  My  brother 
Alexander,  with  whom  I  know  you  are  acquainted,  will,  I  ex- 
pect, be  with  me  at  that  time, 

I  beg  you  will  let  me  hear  from  you  as  speedily  as  possible, 
and  with  sentiments  of  the  highest  respects  be  assured.  Right 
Rev^  Sir, 

I  am  Yr  obed*  &  humble  Serv* 

John  Read  Magruder, 

The  following  extracts  are  taken  from  Bishop  Kemp's 
memorial  address,  which  he  delivered,  as  requested  in  the 
above  letter,  in  the  bishop's  parish  church  on  the  occasion  of 
Bishop  Claggett's  funeral. 

"A  man  of  God,  a  veteran  ambassador  in  the  Redeemer's 
cause,  the  first  prelate  consecrated  in  this  country  to  the 
apostolick  office,  has  yielded  up  his  commission  to  his  Master, 


170  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

and  now  demands  our  parting  offices  of  love.  He  has  fought 
a  good  fight;  he  has  finished  his  course;  he  has  kept  the  faith; 
henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for  him,  a  crown  of  righteousness, 
which  the  Lord,  the  righteous  Judge  shall  give  him  at 
that  day,  .   .  . 

"Bishop  Claggett  was  a  true  and  genuine  son  of  the  Church. 
Her  ministers  he  viewed  as  ambassadors  for  Christ,  and  as 
stewards  of  the  mysteries  of  God.  Her  sacraments  he  con- 
sidered as  channels,  by  which  all  the  benefits  of  the  covenants 
of  Christ,  and  all  the  consolations  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  are 
conveyed  to  the  believing  soul.  Her  liturgy  he  deemed  the 
most  perfect  formula  of  devotion  in  the  Christian  world,  con- 
structed on  the  models  of  primitive  worship,  filled  with  prin- 
ciples of  gospel  doctrine,  and  calculated  to  elevate  the  affec- 
tions, and  to  chasten  the  imagination.  Her  Articles  he  be- 
lieved to  contain  all  the  prominent  points  of  christian  faith. 
And  although  enlarged  and  liberal  in  his  views,  he  was  firm, 
and  consistent,  and  honest  in  his  maintenance  of  her  distinctive 
principles  and  character. 

"As  a  preacher  he  stood  in  the  foremost  rank.  His  manner 
was  commanding  and  impressive;  his  sermons  copious  and 
replete  with  scriptural  matter.  To  the  imagination  of  the 
sinner,  he  opened  the  regions  of  eternal  penalties.  To  the 
penitent,  he  displayed  all  the  benefits  of  atonement,  and  all 
the  riches  of  grace.  To  the  striving  christian,  he  offered  the 
encouragement  of  divine  aid,  and  the  glorious  rewards  of 
heaven.  The  wounds  and  maladies  of  the  unconverted  heart 
of  man,  called  forth  his  tenderest  solicitude,  and  like  a  skilful 
physician,  he  applied  the  only  effectual  remedy,  the  blood  of 
Christ. 

"As  a  divine,  his  learning  was  of  the  most  valuable  kind. 
Having  enjoyed  the  advantages  of  a  liberal  education,  and 
possessing  the  precious  talent  of  a  most  retentive  memory,  his 
knowledge  of  church  history  was  unusually  correct.     The  best 


CLOSING  YEARS  171 

divines  of  the  church  he  had  carefully  studied.  And  with  the 
fund  of  knowledge  thus  treasured  up,  he  was  ready  for  all  the 
exigencies  of  his  station. 

"As  a  Bishop,  he  maintained  the  divine  institution  of  the 
ministry  against  all  attacks;  he  was  sensible  of  the  just 
privileges  of  his  office,  and  anxious  to  preserve  its  high  stand- 
ing in  the  christian  world.  To  his  clergy  he  was  affectionate 
and  friendly;  and  generally  received  from  them  strong  marks 
of  respect  and  esteem." 

"It  is  not  easy,"  writes  the  Rev.  William  Duke  to  Bishop 
Kemp,  "to  know  precisely  the  character  of  our  own  feelings, 
so  are  they  modified,  not  to  say  confounded,  by  the  various 
aspects  under  which  the  same  object  may  be  viewed;  but  to 
me  the  death  of  Bp.  Claggett  is  neither  more  or  less  than  the 
death  of  a  friend,  and  the  solution  of  one  of  those  few  re- 
maining ties  which  maintain  my  fondness  for  the  present 
world.  As  to  panegyrics,  I  neither  write  nor  read  them;  and 
if  other  people  think  they  can  make  a  figure  that  way  I  leave 
them  to  their  amusements.  I  am  not,  however,  indifferent  to 
any  circumstances  of  that  event  which  may  have  transpired, 
or  to  its  consequences.  I  suppose  your  succession  is  a  thing 
of  course,  and  that  there  will  be  no  chasm  to  be  filled  up. 
Elections  are  a  sort  of  necessary  evil  whether  civil  or 
ecclesiastical." 

A  memorial  sermon,  delivered  by  the  Rev.  William  H.  Wil- 
mer,  in  Christ  Church,  Alexandria,  was  printed  at  the  time. 
Doubtless  many  other  commemorative  discourses  were  de- 
livered by  Bishop  Claggett's  friends,  some  of  which  may  have 
been  printed. 

"He  possessed  a  strong  and  vigorous  mind,"  said  Mr.  Wil- 
mer,  "which  was  cultivated  by  a  liberal  education,  and  im- 
proved by  an  acquaintance  with  men  and  manners,  and  with 
all  the  resources  of  general  science.  His  memory  was  pecu- 
liarly vast  and  retentive,  and  was  stored  with  an  astonishing 


172  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

fund  of  entertaining  as  well  as  useful  anecdote,  from  which 
he  delighted  to  draw  for  the  benefit  and  pleasure  of  his 
friends. 

"But  it  was  his  peculiar  glory  to  possess  the  character  of 
the  Christian,  of  the  Christian  Minister,  and  the  Christian 
Bishop.  In  all  these  relations  he  displayed  the  erudition  of 
the  sound  divine,  the  virtues  of  the  Christian,  and  the  fidelity 
of  the  Pastor.  Unassuming,  modest  and  unostentatious,  he 
alone  seemed  unconscious  of  his  talents  or  his  worth.  His 
humility  mingled  itself  with  all  his  actions,  and  was  the  result 
of  his  genuine  piety.  His  religion  was  not  of  that  morose 
and  forbidding  kind,  which  would  teach  us  that  Christianity 
is  designed  to  suppress  all  the  social  and  generous  affections, 
and  to  wrap  the  soul  in  gloomy  contemplation.  It  was  piety 
without  affectation;  cheerfulness  without  levity;  the  effort  of 
Christian  benevolence  laboring  to  scatter  thro'  every  depart- 
ment of  life  something  that  innocently  beguiles  it  of  its  cares, 
while  it  taught  that  the  end  of  life  was  to  die.  His  affability 
and  condescension  made  one  forget  that  he  was  in  the  presence 
of  a  superior,  by  making  him  feel  that  he  was  in  the  presence 
of  a  friend."^ 

In  person  Bishop  Claggett  was  tall,  standing  six  feet  and 
four  inches,  of  a  proportionately  large  frame,  of  an  extremely 
commanding  and,  as  age  advanced,  venerable  appearance. 
His  long  white  hair,  curling  somewhat,  fell  in  thick  ringlets 
upon  his  shoulders,  giving  him  a  veritably  apostolic  aspect. 
All  his  portraits  show  a  most  kindly  and  genial  expression,  the 
entire  countenance  lighted  by  a  characteristic  smile.  Always, 
even  in  old  age,  he  was  blessed  with  great  cheerfulness  and 
geniality  and  with  remarkable  ability  as  a  skillful  conver- 
sationalist. From  all  accounts,  he  was,  in  short,  a  most  ex- 
cellent example  of  the  finest  type  of  an  old-fashioned  South- 

^  A  sermon  ...  on  the  occasion  of  the  death  of  the  Rt.  Rev.  T.  J. 
Claggett,     ...     by  the  Rev.  William  H.  Wilmer,  1817,  p.  28-9. 


CLOSING  YEARS  173 

ern  gentleman,  courtly,  kindly,  charming  in  manner,  generous 
and  hospitable,  cultured  and  thoroughly  at  ease  wherever  he 
found  himself. 

"With  a  powerful  and  rather  harsh  and  unmanageable 
voice,"  says  Bishop  Benjamin  T.  Underdonk,  "and  without 
any  claims  to  what  is  generally  understood  as  oratory,  he 
was  yet,  in  a  very  high  degree,  both  an  acceptable  and  useful 
preacher.  His  enunciation  was  distinct;  his  style  simple  and 
perspicuous;  and  his  manner  earnest  and  impressive.  His 
sermons  were  marked  by  richness  of  thought  and  piety  of 
sentiment,  and  by  giving  great  prominence  to  the  fundamental 
and  essential  doctrines  of  the  gospel.  He  was,  as  a  parish 
priest,  very  faithful  in  adding  to  his  public  duties  diligent 
pastoral  attention  to  families  and  individuals,  including  the 
pooi-est  and  the  humblest.  But  amidst  all  his  parochial  and 
diocesan  cares  and  labors,  he  gave  much  attention  to  intellec- 
tual pursuits;  and  might  well  be  ranked  among  the  best 
theologians  of  his  age  and  country.  His  theology,  touching 
both  doctrine  and  ecclesiastical  order,  was  of  that  truly 
evangelical  stamp,  which  is  so  well  known  in  the  Church  as 
having  had  for  its  intelligent  and  faithful  champions  Sea- 
bury,  Hobart  and  Ravenscroft."^ 

Bishop  Claggett  always  wore  the  mitre  in  performing 
episcopal  functions.  He  always  wore  his  episcopal  robes 
when  officiating  in  his  own  parish  as  rector.  He  always  gave 
the  absolution,  even  though  only  attendant  on  services,  un- 
robed, and  in  the  body  of  the  church.  Following  the  practice 
of  Bishop  Seabury,  he  gave  confirmation  certificates,  many  of 
which  are  still  preserved  by  descendants  of  the  recipients.  He 
consecrated  burial  grounds  after  the  English  custom. 

"Bishop  Claggett,  so  far  as  I  know  and  believe,"  wrote  the 
venerable  Bishop  Meade,  of  Virginia,  "entertained  sound 
views  of  the  gospel,  and  was  a  truly  pious  man.     There  was 

^  Churchman's  Monthly  Magazine,  March,  1855,  v.  2;  no.  3. 


174  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

much  of  the  Englishman  about  him,  I  presume  from  his 
wearing  the  mitre,  and  his  mode  of  examining  me,  that  con- 
forming so  much  to  the  character  of  the  English  University 
examinations.  Besides  a  number  of  hard  questions  in  the 
metaphysics  of  divinity,  which  I  was  by  no  means  well  pre- 
pared to  answer,  but  which  he  kindly  answered  for  me,  he 
requested  that  I  would,  in  compliance  with  an  old  English 
canon,  which  had  been,  I  think  incorporated  somewhere  into 
our  requisitions,  give  him  an  account  of  my  faith  in  the  Latin 
tongue.  Although  I  am  pretty  well  versed  in  the  Latin 
language,  yet,  being  unused  to  speak  it,  I  begged  him  to  ex- 
cuse me.  He  then  said  I  could  take  pen  and  paper  and  write 
it  down  in  his  presence;  but  he  was  kind  enough  to  excuse  me 
from  that  also,  and  determined  to  ordain  me  with  all  my 
deficiencies,  very  much  as  some  other  bishops  do  in  this  day."^ 

Mr.  Meade  was  ordained  priest  by  Bishop  Claggett  Jan- 
uary 29,  1814,  in  St.  Paul's  Church,  Alexandria,  Virginia. 

Bishop  Meade  also  relates  the  following  incident:  "A  singu- 
lar circumstance  occurred  about  this  time  in  connection  with 
Bishop  Claggett's  consecration  of  old  St.  Paul's  Church, 
Alexandria.  Putting  on  his  robes  and  his  mitre  at  some  dis- 
tance from  the  church,  he  had  to  go  along  the  street  to  reach  it. 
This  attracted  the  attention  of  a  number  of  boys  and  others, 
who  ran  after  and  alongside  of  him,  admiring  his  peculiar 
dress  and  gigantic  stature.  His  voice  was  as  extraordinary 
for  strength  and  ungovernableness  as  was  his  stature  for  size, 
and  as  he  entered  the  door  of  the  church  where  the  people 
were  in  silence  awaiting,  and  the  first  words  of  the  service 
burst  forth  from  his  lips  in  his  most  peculiar  manner,  a  young 
lady,  turning  around  suddenly  and  seeing  his  huge  form  and 
uncommon  appearance,  was  so  convulsed  that  she  was  obliged 
to  be  taken  out  of  the  house."* 

^  Meade,  Old  Churches,  Ministers  and  Families  oj  Virginia,  1857,  v.  1 , 
p.  34-35.  2  lUd,  p.  35. 


CLOSING  YEARS  176 

Bishop  Claggett  was  exceedingly  thoughtful  of  the  rights 
of  others  and  took  great  care  not  to  tread  on  the  authority  of 
his  clergy,  but  to  consult  them  on  every  occasion  when  he 
found  it  proper  to  do  so.  He  was  particular  that  all  the 
business  of  his  office  should  be  performed  with  due  regard 
for  form  and  dignity,  and  laboriously  attended  to  many  de- 
tails which  taxed  severely  the  strength  that  he  sorely  needed 
for  other  duties.  He  entertained  abundant  charity  for  all 
men  and  in  good  report  and  in  evil  report  invariably  placed 
the  best  interpretation  upon  their  words  and  actions.  He  was 
a  man  who  warmly  appreciated  his  friends,  served  them 
loyally  and  held  affectionately  to  them  to  the  end.  His  cor- 
respondence with  the  Rev.  William  Duke  would,  in  itself, 
almost  fill  a  volume.  The  Rev.  Benjamin  Contee,  for  many 
years  his  neighbor  in  an  adjoining  parish,  was  in  many  re- 
spects the  bishop's  closest  friend  outside  the  circle  of  his 
family,  and  except  for  proximity  doubtless  a  voluminous  cor- 
respondence would  have  resulted.  Dr.  Kemp,  Dr.  Bend,  and 
his  son  in  the  gospel,  the  Rev.  Joseph  Jackson,  should  also  be 
mentioned  as  close  personal  friends  among  his  clergy.  Dr. 
Kemp,  in  his  steadfast  determination  to  secure  episcopal  elec- 
tion, sorely  tried  the  good  man's  peace-loving,  generous  soul, 
but  Bishop  Claggett  remained  his  loyal  friend  to  the  last. 

A  number  of  clergymen  of  various  denominations  were 
brought  into  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  through  their 
intimate  association  with  Bishop  Claggett.  His  friend  Duke 
in  early  life  was  a  Methodist  minister,  and  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Lyell,  a  Methodist  preacher  of  the  city  of  Washington,  who 
was  closely  associated  with  Claggett  when  the  two  were  chap- 
lains respectively  of  the  national  House  and  Senate,  after- 
wards became  a  clergyman  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church. 

Claggett  was  remarkably  liberal  in  his  theology,  consider- 
ing the  times  in  which  he  lived.     Numerous  instances  in  his 


176  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

addresses  and  correspondence  show  that  he  felt  most  kindly 
toward  other  Christian  bodies  and  desired  no  rights  or 
privileges  for  the  Episcopal  Church  which  might  not  be  se- 
cured by  other  societies,  if  they  wished  them.  "We  wish  not 
to  do,"  said  the  bishop  on  a  certain  occasion,  "or  even  to  offer 
the  least  injury  or  offence  to  our  brethren  of  other  religious 
societies;  nor  shall  we  ask  for  any  legislative  provisions, 
which  we  wish  not  to  every  society,  which  may  desire  them."^ 

He  left  quite  an  extensive  library;  that  is,  extensive  for 
those  days.  He  was  a  thorough  scholar,  a  wide  reader,  and 
that  he  valued  books  is  seen  from  the  following  extract  from 
an  address  prepared  in  1794:  "A  melancholy  proof  of  the 
decay  of  religion  is  the  great  injury,  which  has  been  sustained 
by  our  parish  libraries !  books  sent  long  since  into  this  coun- 
try for  the  assistance  of  the  clergy,  and  the  edification  of 
their  flocks.  Can  any  interest.  Brethren,  come  into  competi- 
tion with  those,  which  religion  involves?  Can  we  then  be  too 
careful  to  preserve  writings  by  which  they  may  be  promoted.'' 
To  us  it  is  wonderful,  that  men  refuse  to  bestow  upon  her  a 
part  of  their  substance;  but  our  wonder  exceeds,  at  their  re- 
fusing to  devote  to  her  that  little  care  which  would  preserve 
those  Books,  constituting  our  parish-libraries."* 

On  May  15th,  1827,  the  Rev.  John  Claxton,  rector  at  Upper 
Marlboro,  wrote  to  Bishop  Kemp :  "  .  .  .  the  Rev.  Mr.  Addi- 
son, of  Georgetown,  was  in  my  parish,  or  rather  at  Miss 
Betsey  Claggett's  (daughter  of  the  late  Bishop  Claggett)  on 
last  Saturday  soliciting  a  donation  of  books  from  her  for 
the  Alexandria  School,  and  that  she  has  partly  promised  them 
if  her  brother  and  the  other  heirs  consent  to  it.  As  the  books 
which  she  would  give  are  many  and  valuable  I  should  wish 
to  obtain  them  for  the  Gen^  Sem^  and  shall  take  whatever  steps 

1  Address  to  the  Vestries  and  Members  of  the  P.  E.  Church  in  Md.,  1794, 
p.  7. 

2  Ibid,  p.  6-7. 


CLOSING  YEARS  177 

I  shall  think  proper  to  do  so,  or  you  may  recommend.  But  I 
know.  Sir,  that  if  you  would  write  her  a  few  lines,  and  use 
your  influence  with  her  you  might  readily  obtain  them  for  the 
Gen^  Sem^  and  thus  deprive  an  enemy  of  power  and  strengthen 
your  friends.  Her  father  was  friendly  to  our  cause,  and  I 
believe  there  is  a  scholarship  in  part  established  in  his  name, 
which  out  (sic)  to  be  inducements  to  the  heirs  to  assist  the 
New  York  Sem^  in  preference  to  the  Alex*  school." 

We  may  say  in  passing  that  we  trust  with  change  of  time 
the  friends  and  advocates  of  these  respective  theological 
seminaries  no  longer  refer  to  each  other  as  "enemies."  Cor- 
respondence has  failed  to  discover  any  of  the  bishop's  books 
in  either  of  these  libraries.  The  Maryland  Diocesan  Library, 
of  Baltimore,  has  a  few  of  Bishop  Claggett's  books,  in  one  of 
which  is  a  very  creditably  designed  and  executed  armorial 
book-plate,  which  appears  to  have  escaped  the  attention,  thus 
far,  of  all  writers  on  the  subject  of  book-plates. 


In  1898,  the  General  Convention  meeting  in  the  city  of 
Washington,  determined  that  the  dust  of  Bishop  Claggett  and 
his  wife  should  be  brought  from  the  obscurity  of  a  Maryland 
coimtry  parish  and  reinterred  on  the  site  of  the  cathedral  now 
in  process  of  erection  in  the  city  of  Washington.  Thus  on 
November  1st  of  that  year,  with  dignity  and  proper  cere- 
mony, the  mortal  remains  of  the  first  bishop  of  Maryland, 
and  the  first  bishop  consecrated  in  America,  and  of  his  faith- 
ful wife,  were  deposited  beneath  the  chancel  of  the  chapel  at 
the  cathedral  site  on  Mount  Saint  Alban,  the  ceremony  being 
conducted  by  Bishop  Henry  Yates  Satterlee,  of  the  diocese 
of  Washington,  who  has  since  passed  to  the  beyond. 

The  following  epitaph  upon  Bishop  Claggett's  tombstone, 
was  composed  by  his  very  dear  friend  and  fellow-Churchman, 
Francis  Scott  Key,  the  author  of  "The  Star  Spangled  Ban- 


178  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  CLAGGETT 

ner."  Key  was  a  consistent  and  zealous  member  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  active  in  its  councils  and  fre- 
quently representing  the  diocese  of  Maryland  in  the  General 
Conventions.-*^ 

"Thomas  Joannes  Claggett,  D.  D. 

Marylandiae  Episcopus  primus 

Natus  sexto  nonis  Octobris 

Anno  Salutis 

1743 

Ordinatus  Diaconus  et  Presbyter 

LoNDINI 

1767 
Et  Episcopus  consecratus 

1792 

Decessit  in  pace  Christi 

Quarto  nonis  Augusti 

1816 

FiDELITATE   ET  MaNSUETUDINE 
ECCLESIAM    ReXIT 

moribusque 

Ornavit 

uxori,  liberis,  sociisque 

Memoriam  CLARISSIMAM 

Et  Patriae  et  Ecclesiae 

NOMEN    HONORATUM 

Dedit." 

"I  feel  y*  beauty/'  wrote  the  bishop,  in  the  early  days 
of  his  episcopate  to  his  friend  Duke,  "of  your  simile  of 
y*  tree  stricken  with  a  blast  of  wind;  it  is  y®  Observation  of 
naturalists  that  y*  breaking  of  some  of  y*  old  roots  of  a  tree 

^  See  Francis  Scott  Key  as  a  Churchman,  by  Lawrence  C.  Wroth,  in  Md. 
Hist.  Mag.,  June,  1909,  p.  154-70. 


CLOSING  YEARS  179 

or  plant  causes  it  to  shoot  forth  new  ones  &  to  flourish  w''^ 
more  vigour  &  bring  forth  more  abundant  fruit;  may  God 
grant  that  we,  my  dear  Sir,  may  never  become  barren  fig- 
trees;  but  that  y®  Storms  &  troubles  of  this  life  may  cause 
us  to  fix  our  roots  deeply  in  the  only  foundation  that  can  sup- 
port us,  &  to  bring  forth  fruit  one  hundred  fold!  May  God 
bless  you  in  time  &  in  eternity. 

Tho»  Jn"  Claqgett." 

THE    END 


INDEX 


Adams,  Margaret,  3. 

Adams,  Samuel,  quoted,  opposing 
episcopacy,  58. 

Adams,  Sir  Thomas,  3. 

Addison,  Walter,  appointed  visiting 
member,  90. 

All  Hallows  Parish,  Anne  Arimdel 
County,  condition  of,  1797,  98-99; 
condition,  1798,  101. 

All  Saints'  Parish,  Calvert  Coimty, 
condition  of,  28. 

Allison,  Francis,  43. 

Avery,  Waightstill,  10. 

Bailey,  Thomas,  63. 

BarroU,  William,  63. 

Bartow,  Rev.  Mr.,  166. 

Bass,  Edward,  position  during 
Revolutionary  war,  29;  Claggett 
participates  in  consecration  of, 
132. 

Bayne,  Thomas,  ordained  deacon, 
140. 

Beach,  Abraham,  160. 

Beall,  William,  103. 

Bend,  Joseph  G.  J.,  63,  76,  77;  ap- 
pointed visiting  member,  91;  re- 
ports as  visiting  member,  94-101 ; 
letter  to,  from  Claggett,  121-23; 
death  referred  to,  142. 

Bishops,  attitude  of  chiu-ch  toward 
oflQce  of,  42;  two  proposed  for 
Maryland,  59-60. 

Bissett,  John,  63. 

Bowie,  John,  63;  160. 

Bowie,  John  Fraser,  63;  appointed 
visiting  member,  91. 

Bray,  Thomas,  efforts  to  secure 
episcopate  for  the  colonies,  59. 

Brockenbrough,  Dr.,  163. 

Brown,  Anne,  step-mother  of  Thom- 
as John  Claggett,  7. 

Brown,  Aquila,  63. 

Brown,  Dixon,  82. 

Brown,  Dr.  Gustavus,  7. 

Buchanan,  George,  82. 

Burgess,  Benjamin,  32. 

Butler,  Weeden,  extract  from  diary, 
16;  letters  to,  from  Claggett,  19- 
24. 

Calvert,  Benedict  Leonard,  12. 

Calvert,  George,  Lord  Baltimore,  3. 

Cecil  County,  condition  of  church 
in,  in  1808,  107-8. 

Chaille,  Peter,  63. 

Chandler,  Joseph,  ordained  to  priest- 
hood, 138. 

Chase,  Samuel,  45,  76,  77. 

Chew,  John  Hamilton,  8. 

Chew,  Samuel,  8. 

Chew,  Thomas  John,  63. 


Chllds,  Zachariah,  32. 

Chiu-ch,  condition  of,  during  Revolu- 
tionary war,  30;  organization  of, 
in  Maryland,  38  et  seq. 

Church  of  England  in  colonial 
Maryland,  3-4;  established,  5. 

Clagett,  Edward,  7. 

Clagett,  Eleanor,  7. 

Clagett,  Richard,  7. 

Clagett,  Samuel,  father  of  Thomas 
John,  1,  7,  8. 

Clagett,  Thomas,  1,  3,  6,  7. 

Claggett,  Charles  Nicholas,  son  of 
Thomas  John  Claggett,  29. 

Claggett,  Edward,  2,  3. 

Claggett,  Elizabeth  Gantt,  mother 
of  Thomas  John  Claggett,  7. 

Claggett,  Elizabeth  Laura  (wife  of 
Josiah  Young),  daughter  of 
Thomas  John  Claggett,  29. 

Claggett,  George,  2. 

Claggett,  Mary  (wife  of  John  Evers- 
fleld  of  Matthew),  daughter  of 
Thomas  John  Claggett,  29. 

Claggett,  Mary  Gantt,  wife  of 
Thomas  John  Claggett,  28. 

Claggett,  Nicholas,  2. 

Claggett,  Priscilla,  sister  of  Thomas 
John,  7. 

Claggett,  Priscilla  Elizabeth  (wife 
of  Colonel  John  Hamilton  Chew), 
daughter  of  Thomas  John  Clag- 
gett, 29. 

Claggett,  Richard,  2,  3. 

Claggett,  Robert,  2. 

Claggett,  Samuel,  half-brother  of 
Thomas  John,  8. 

Claggett,  Samuel,  son  of  Thomas 
John  Claggett,  29,  167,  168. 

Claggett,  Thomas  John,  born,  1; 
ancestry,  1-3;  boyhood,  8;  gradu- 
ates College  of  New  Jersey,  8 ;  col- 
lege contemporaries  of,  9-10; 
studies  theology,  12,  15;  Master  of 
Arts  from  College  of  New  Jersey, 
15;  voyage  to  England,  15;  or- 
dained deacon,  15;  priest,  15; 
experiences  in  England,  17;  re- 
turn to  Maryland,  17;  curate  All 
Saints'  Parish,  Calvert  County, 
25;  rector  of  same,  25;  marries, 
28;  children  of,  29;  attitude  dur- 
ing Revolutionary  war,  29-30; 
resigns  parish,  30;  officiates  St. 
Paiil's,  Prince  George's  County, 
30;  rector  Christ  Church,  Queen 
Caroline  Parish,  Anne  Arvmdel 
County,  30;  rector  St.  James, 
Anne  Arundel  County  and  All 
Saints',    Calvert   Coimty,   30-31; 


181 


182 


INDEX 


rector  Trinity  Church,  Upper 
Marlboro,  31;  Doctor  of  Divinity, 
32;  elected  bishop,  62;  testimonial 
for  consecration,  62;  consecration 
of,  65;  certificate  of  consecration 
of,  66;  resigns  St.  James'  Parish, 
Anne  Arundel  County,  and  be- 
comes rector  of  St.  Paul's  Parish, 
Prince  George's  County,  67; 
salary  and  expenses  as  bishop,  69— 
70;  first  convention  report,  70-71; 
convention  address,  1797,  89-92; 
appointed  to  preacli  1811  conven- 
tion sermon,  131;  appointed  to 
preach  1814  convention  sermon, 
131;  participates  in  consecration 
of  Robert  Smith,  Edward  Bass, 
and  Samuel  Parker,  132;  report  to 
convention,  1813,  138-43;  rector 
Trinity  Church,  Upper  Marlboro, 
144;  address  to  1811  convention, 
144-5;  ill  health  of,  162-3;  salary 
and  expenses,  165-6;  death  of, 
168;  funeral  arrangements,  168- 
9 ;  extract  from  funeral  sermon  by 
Kemp,  169-71;  personality,  char- 
acteristics, etc.,  170-6;  chaplain 
of  U.  S.  Senate,  175;  library  of, 
176-7;  removal  of  remains  to 
cathedral  site,  Washington,  177; 
epitaph,  178. 

Claggett,  Thomas  John,  son  of 
Bishop  Claggett,  29. 

Claxton,  John,  writes  to  Jackson  re- 
garding Claggett's  books,  176-7. 

Colebatch,  Joseph,  invited  to  be- 
come suffragan  for  the  colonies, 
and  sketch  of,  58-59. 

Coleman,  John,  63;  appointed  visit- 
ing member,  91 ;  report  as  visiting 
member,  108-9. 

Common  prayer.  Book  of,  proposed 
revision,  48-50. 

Compton,  Jno.  W.,  63. 

Contee,  Benjamin,  report  as  visiting 
member,  110-11;  report  of  visita- 
tions, 111-3;  journal  of  visitation 
to  eastern  shore  with  Claggett, 
117-9;  candidate  for  suffragan 
bishop,  146;  intimate  friendship 
with  Claggett,  175. 

Cook,  William,  77. 

Cramp,  John,  ordained  deacon,  17. 

Croes,  John,  Claggett  invited  to 
assist  at  consecration  of,  134. 

Cromwell,  Richard,  63. 

Dade,  Townshend,  63;  deposed 
from  ministry,  72. 

Dashiell,  George,  attitude  of,  toward 
election  of  suffragan,  146,  150. 

Davis,  H.  L.,  report  as  visiting  mem- 
ber, 105-8;  on  committee,  165. 

De  Butts,  John,  63. 

Dehon,  Theodore,  Claggett  invited 
to  assist  at  consecration  of,  132; 
letter  to  Claggett,  133. 

Delaware,  church  in,  proposes  join- 
ing Eastern  Shore  of  Maryland  to 
elect  bishop,  114. 

Dentt,  Hatch,  63. 


Dissenters  eligible  as  vestrymen,  6. 

Dorsey,  Deborah,  7. 

Dorsey,  WilUam  H.,  165. 

Duke,  William,  letter  from  Clag- 
gett to,  43-44;  ditto,  48-50;  ditto, 
64-56;  signs  Claggett  testimonial, 
63;  letter  from  Claggett  to,  67- 
68;  "Testimonium"  of,  for  use  in 
Kentucky,  115-6;  writes  to  Kemp 
regarding  election  of  a  bishop, 
153 ;  to  same  on  death  of  Claggett, 
171;  intimate  friendship  with 
Claggett,  175. 

Eden,  Robert,  43. 

Edwards,  Jonathan,  9. 

Elkridge  Parish,  condition  of,  1796, 
96-97. 

Ellsworth,  Oliver,  10. 

Episcopate,  fund  for  support  of,  165. 

Episcopate,  struggle  for,  57  et  seq. 

Eversfield,  John,  diary  of,  1 ;  wife  of, 
7 ;  tutor  of  Thomas  John  Claggett, 
8 -.sketch  of,  12-13. 

Ferguson,  Colin,  63. 

Frederick,  condition  of  church  in 
1800,  103. 

Gantt,  Edward,  grandfather  of 
Thomas  John  Claggett,  7,  8. 

Gantt,  Dr.  Edward,  letter  to  Basil 
Waring,  18. 

Gantt,  Edward,  father-in-law  of 
Thomas  John  Claggett,  28. 

Gantt,  Edward,  63. 

Gantt,  Elizabeth,  mother  of  Thomas 
John  Claggett,  7. 

Gantt,  Mary,  wife  of  Thomas  John 
Claggett,  28. 

Gardiner,  Rev.  Mr.,  124. 

Gates,  Thomas,  40. 

General  convention,  meets  in  Balti- 
more, 1808,  127  et  seq. 

Godman,  Samuel,  63. 

Goldsborough,  Robert,  45. 

Gordon,  John,  40. 

Gott,  Ezekiel,  32. 

Gouder,  Sir  Robert,  2. 

Griswold,  Alexander  Viets,  133. 

Grosh,  Eleanor,  first  person  con- 
firmed by  Claggett,  68. 

Hagerstown,  condition  of  church, 
1800,  103. 

Hall,  John,  32. 

Hanson,  Samuel,  licenced  as  reader, 
139. 

Harwood,  Richard,  Jr.,  63. 

Harrison,  Elisha,  63. 

Harrison,  Richard,  32,  60,  63. 

Haward,  J.  E.,  63. 

Hawks,  Francis  L.,  quoted,  64-65; 
92-93; 146. 

Hazard,  Ebenezer,  9. 

Higinbotham,  R.,  63. 

Hindman,  John,  63. 

Hobart,  John  Henry,  133;  considers 
objections  to  Kemp's  election, 
154;  assists  at  consecration  of 
Kemp,  160. 

Harrel,  Thomas,  139. 

Howard,  James,  63. 

Howard,  John  Beale,  165. 


INDEX 


183 


Jackson,  Joseph,  letter  to  Claggett, 
36-37;  letter  to  Kemp,  135-38; 
letter  from  Claggett,  147 ;  letter  to 
Kemp,  158;  friendship  with  Clag- 
gett, 175. 

Jarvls,  Abraham,  assists  at  con- 
secration of  Samuel  Parker  and 
Benjamin  Moore,  132. 

Jesuits  in  colonial  Maryland,  3-4. 

Keene,  John,  63. 

Keene,  Samuel,  38,  39,  40,  63;  ap- 
pointed visiting  member,  90; 
appointed  missionary  to  Ken- 
tucky, 116. 

Kemp,  James,  signs  Claggett  testi- 
monial, 63;  appointed  visiting 
member,  91;  report  as  visiting 
member,  104-5;  candidate  for 
suffragan  bishop,  146;  letter  from 
Claggett,  148;  elected  suffragan 
bishop,  153;  contest  concerning 
election,  153-8;  letter  from  Clag- 
gett, 154;  letter  from  Jackson, 
158;  consecrated  bishop,  160; 
sketch  of  his  life,  160-1;  on  com- 
mittee, 165;  letters  from  Claggett, 
166-7;  letter  from  John  Read 
Magruder,  168-9;  extract  from 
Claggett  funeral  sermon,  169- 
71;  friendship  with  Claggett,  175. 

Kent  Coimty,  condition  of  church 
in,  in  1808,  105-7. 

Kentucky,  missionary  work  pro- 
posed in,  115-6. 

Key,  Edmund.  63. 

Key,  Francis  Scott,  epitaph  of  Clag- 
gett, written  by,  178. 

Key,  Philip  Barton,  77. 

Laird,  James,  conducts  a  distillery, 
72. 

Lemmon,  George,  licenced  as  reader, 
139. 

Libraries,  parish,  73. 

Lloyd,  James,  63. 

Lutherans  in  colonial  Maryland,  4, 
5. 

Lyell,  Thomas,  chaplain  national 
house  of  representatives,  175. 

McPherson,  Alexander,  63. 

McPherson,  Walter,  63. 

Madison,  James,  participates  In 
consecration  of  Claggett,  65;  of 
Robert  Smith,  132. 

Magowan,  Walter,  33. 

Magruder,  John  Read,  letter  to 
Kemp,  168-9. 

Manning,  James,  9. 

Martin,  Luther,  10,  76. 

Maryland,  settlement  and  early 
history,  3-6;  population,  19;  or- 
ganization of  church  in,  38  et  seq. 

Meade,  William,  ordained  to  priest- 
hood, 135;  mentioned,  163;  writes 
on  characteristics  of  Claggett,  173— 
4. 

Messenger,  Joseph,  63. 

Ministers,  appointment  of,  in 
colonial  Maryland,  5,  25;  morals 
of,  26-28;  support  of,  72-73;  ur- 
gent need  of,  in  Maryland,  123. 


Monumental  Church,  Richmond, 
letter  from  Wilmer  to  Claggett 
concerning  dedication,  164;  con- 
secrated, 165. 

Moore,  Benjamin,  consecrated,  132; 
assists  at  consecration  of  Samuel 
Parker,  132. 

Moore,  Richard  Channing,  considers 
objections  to  Kemp's  election, 
154;  assists  at  consecration  of 
Kemp,  160;  consecrates  Monu- 
mental Church,  Richmond,  165. 

Negroes,  attitude  of  church  toward, 
36. 

Niell,  Hugh,  writes  to  Bishop  of 
London,  28;  quoted,  43. 

Ninde,  Rev.  Mr.,  ordained  to  priest- 
hood, 139. 

O'Bryon,  James,  63. 

Oliver,  Thomas  F.,  76. 

Paca,  William,  39,  45. 

Parishes  in  colonial  Maryland,  4,  5, 
18. 

Parker,  Samuel,  position  during 
Revolutionary  war,  29;  Claggett 
participates  in  consecration  of, 
132. 

Perry,  William,  63. 

Pew-rent  scheme  recommended  by 
Claggett,  72. 

Presbyterians  in  colonial  Maryland, 
4,  5;  opposition  to  episcopacy,  58. 

Protestant  Episcopal,  first  recorded 
use  of  name,  42. 

Provoost,  Samuel,  position  during 
Revolutionary  war,  29;  presides 
at  consecration  of  Claggett,  65; 
assists  at  consecration  of  Robert 
Smith  and  Edward  Bass,  132. 

Pryce,  William,  delegate  to  Mary- 
land convention,  114. 

Puritans  in  colonial  Maryland,  4,  5; 
opposition  to  episcopacy,  58. 

Quakers  in  colonial  Maryland,  4,  5. 

Queen  Anne's  County,  condition  of 
church  in,  in  1808,  105. 

Queen  Caroline  Parish,  Anne  Arun- 
del County,  condition  of,  1798, 
101. 

Ralph,  George,  124. 

Ramsay,  David,  9. 

Randall,  John,  63. 

Rawlings,  John,  63. 

Read,  Thos.,  63;  appointed  visiting 
member,  91;  report  as  visiting 
member,  103-4. 

Reeve,  Tapping,  9. 

Revolutionary  war,  29—30. 

Ridgley,  Charles,  7. 

Roman  Catholics  in  early  Maryland, 
3-6. 

St.  Anne's  Church,  AnnapoUs,  98, 
101. 

St.  James'  Parish,  Anne  Arundel 
County,  description  of,  31-36; 
condition  of,  1797,  100;  condition, 
1798,  101. 

St.  James'  Parish,  Harford  County, 
condition  in  1808,  108-9. 

St.  Margaret's  Parish,  Westminster, 


184 


INDEX 


Anne  Arundel  County,  condition 
of,  1796,  94-95. 

St.  Paul's  Parish,  Prince  George's 
County,  articles  purchased  for 
church,  14. 

St.  Paul's  Parish,  Baltimore,  Clag- 
gett  intimates  desire  to  become 
associate  rector,  122. 

St.  Peter's  Parish,  Montgomery 
County,  condition  in  1800,  103. 

St.  Peter's  Church,  Talbot  County, 
consecrated,  119;  condition,  1797, 
102-3. 

St.  Thomas'  Parish,  Baltimore 
Coxinty,  condition  of,  1796,  95-96. 

Satterlee,  Henry  Yates,  conducts 
services  at  removal  of  Bishop 
Claggett's  remains,  177. 

Schools,  grammar,  in  colonial  Mary- 
land, 8. 

Scott,  Gustavus,  76. 

Seabury,  Samuel,  position  during 
Revolutionary  war,  29;  consecra- 
tor  of  Claggett,  65. 

Sharpe,  Horatio,  Governor  of  Mary- 
land, 25,  28. 

Slaves,  letter  to  Claggett  respecting, 
36-37. 

Smith,  Pumel  F.,  ordained  deacon, 
143. 

Smith,  William,  38,  40;  elected  bish- 
op of  Maryland,  43;  sketch  of, 
44-48. 

Sprigg,  Richard,  Jr.,  63. 

Stephens,   Daniel,  quoted,  116-7. 

Stevens,  Rev.    Mr.,    166. 

Stone,  William  Murray,  ordained  to 
priesthood,  135. 

Suffragan  bishop,  election  of  a,  144 
et  seq. 

Terrick,  Richard,  Lord  Bishop  of 
Peterborough  (later  of  London), 
7,  15;  letter  to,  from  Claggett,  27. 

Tiffany,  C.  C,  quoted,  45-47,  57-8. 

Tilghman,  James,  33. 

Travel,  difficulties  of,  120. 

Trinity  Church,  New .  York,  Clag- 
gett consecrated  in,  65. 


Turner,  Rev.  Mr.,  166. 

Underdonk,  Benjamin  T.,  writes  on 
characteristics  of  Claggett,  173. 

Veazey,  Thomas  B.,  63. 

Vestry  act,  a  new,  76  et  seq. 

Vestrymen  in  colonial  Maryland,  5. 

Visiting  members,  plan  of,  83  et  seq. 

Walker,  Archibald,  63. 

War  of  1812,  conditions  caused  by, 
135-38. 

Wardens  in  colonial  Maryland,  5. 

Waring,  Basil,  letter  from  Edward 
Gantt,  18. 

Warfleld,  Edwin,  7. 

Washington,  Episcopal  church  in, 
proposed,  69;  Claggett  intimates 
desire  to  be  rector  in,  122. 

Washington  College,  39,  45. 

Weems,  John,  32,  63. 

Weems,  Mason  Locke,  criticism  of 
action  of,  51-52;  signs  Claggett 
testimonial,  63. 

Weems,  WiUiam,  32. 

West,  William,  40;  letter  from  Clag- 
gett to,  50-52. 

White,  John,  63. 

White,  William,  position  during 
Revolutionary  war,  29 ;  letter  from 
Claggett  to,  52-53;  consecrator 
of  Claggett,  65 ;  letter  to  Claggett, 
127-8;  letter  from  Claggett  to, 
128-30;  preaches  1808  convention 
sermon,  131;  participates  in  con- 
secration of  Smith,  Bass  and 
Parker,  132;  considers  objections 
to  Kemp's  election,  154;  conse- 
crates James  Kemp,  160. 

Whitefleld,  George,  11. 

Whitehead,  James,  appointed  sec- 
retary House  of  Bishops,  131. 

Wilmer,  James  Jones,  38. 

Wilmer,  William  H.,  writes  to  Clag- 
gett, 163;  extract  from  sermon  on 
death  of  Claggett,  171-2. 

Wootton,  Richard,  63. 

Worrell,  Edward,  63. 

Wyatt,  Rev.  Mr.,  166. 

Young,  Noble,  ordained  deacon,  140  . 


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